But the "underdogs" on the bowling team stand up for themselves and don't care what others think. Some of the characters appear stereotypical at first, and the different groups make fun of each other at school. The overall message is not to judge others and that kindness and community are more important than winning - Alex ( Kyle Schmid) and his friends try to steer clear of any school spirit until they are forced to take part in a big inter-school competition.
It is a feel-good Disney TV movie with some fun scenes and catchy music. In 2014, the movie's English Wikipedia article gained attention for having the longest film plot summary on the English-language version of the site.Parents need to know that Alley Cats Strike is a family sports drama - with many positive messages - about a boy and his outsider friends who spend their spare time bowling. Jim Cushnie, Ricky Estrada, David Ferreria, Richard Ferreria and Dennis Leipertįilming of Alley Cats Strike began on October 25, 1999. Cathy McLemoreĬhris Browne, Shaffer Smith, Wade Robson, Kenny Blank and Kel Mitchellĭouglas Shawe, Tom, Mgrdichian and Teddy Castellucci Alex and his friends decide to compromise and name the new school Appleton Central.
Todd tells his father that it does not seem fair for a school to be named over a game of bowling. Using her knowledge of physics, Delia rolls a spinner slowly down the lane and spares, winning the competition, to everyone's surprise. At the end of the competition, Todd's bowling results in a 7-10 split, which he could never master during his training. Kevin tells Alex to not let a dispute end a friendship.Īlex re-joins the bowling team for the competition the next day. Kevin later tells Alex that he used to be friends with Jeff when they were younger but ended their friendship after accusing the other of losing a baseball game, which they both believe resulted in the city losing The Mighty Apple. Todd attempts to convince Alex to re-join the bowling team, and reveals new shirts with the team's name, Alley Cats, on it. The team is also told about the wager between the mayors, after which Alex quits the team out of anger. From the city, the West Appleton bowling team receives low-quality team shirts for the bowling competition. Hanburger hires Whipsaw McGraw, a bowling champion, to train his bowling team. Jeff McLemore, Todd's father and the mayor of West Appleton, makes a wager with mayor Hanburger of East Appleton: the winning team, in addition to receiving The Mighty Apple, will also get to choose the name for a new school that is under construction. After the party, Alex overhears Todd's friends talking among each other and discovers that they are only pretending to be friends with Alex to increase the chances of their school winning back The Mighty Apple.
Delia, Elisa, and Ken leave the party early, as they feel betrayed by Alex now frequently hanging out with Todd and his friends. Todd uses his popularity to convince various businesses to donate supplies such as paint and flashing lights for the bowling alley, where a party known as the "Bowling Ball" is held and attended by dozens of people. The children later redecorate Kevin's bowling alley to bring in customers. Todd's bowling improves, while Alex's bowling becomes worse as he continues to spend time with Todd. Alex later attends a party with Todd, rather than train at the bowling alley with his friends, upsetting them. He criticizes Alex and his friends for not demonstrating a strong willingness to win, which they deem as overconfidence. Alex Thompson and his friends, Delia, Elisa and Ken, are in West Appleton Junior High School's bowling club they discover that Todd McLemore, a popular basketball player, is also a member of the club, as his friends Leo and Flip had signed him up as a prank.Īt a bowling alley operated by Alex's father, Kevin Thompson, Todd reluctantly trains for the upcoming bowling competition with Alex and his friends. The two cities, both vying for a trophy known as The Mighty Apple, must determine the winner through a bowling competition. A junior high school basketball game between the cities of East Appleton and West Appleton ends in a tie.