this movie be all ultra lightweight fluff and predictable from begin to end . a a don knotts vehicle and the incredible mr. limpet be much good and with knott character there not nearly a incompetent or ignorant . his performance there be tone down and with none of his trademark goggle eye stare and although that may have something to do with him be replace for most of the movie by a cartoon fish . knotts make a living of play the likable imbecile and much a bob denver do . neither really seem to be able to break out to other type of role and assume they be simply typecast . it be probably because of the slouch and the wild stare and the high pitched voice . john ritter and whom knotts work with in three company and be able to transcend his genre and branch out successfully into dramatic role like the dreamer of oz and but the close knotts ever get be a small role in pleasantville . even leslie nielsen be a bad fit here and uncomfortably neither straight dramatic actor a he be at the time nor deadpan comedic actor a he later become in airplane . and police squad . there also no way the then 43 year old knotts could pass for a 35 year old and a his character insist he be . it be a ludicrously unbelievable a tom hank at 38 play the college age forrest gump . the film be clearly make on a shoestring budget and very much look like a hastily film tv episode . it especially evident in the exterior scene of the town where roy go after he fire . it unlikely even a pre schooler would be fool by the mayberry like soundstage artificiality . even view this strictly a a child movie and it very disappointing . it not because it lack action or special effect and although it do . the pace be much too slow and the situation repetitive . how many time can you watch roy get onto a bus . a comedy for kid should at least sometimes be madcap and with breakneck gag and otherwise you risk bore them ( and any adult in the theater as well ) . movie and even kid movie and have improve quite a bit in the intervening decade . even many contemporary comedy be good film and write . disney the love bug and for instance and at least have some interesting race action .