Reverend Michael Hill and his two children, a boy and a girl (but no baby), have just moved to the town of New Campton, where the reverend takes over as the pastor for North Avenue Presbyterian Church. The reverend has big plans for the church and almost immediately asks Rose Rafferty, one of the church ladies, to watch over all the money in the kitty. Right before his first sermon, Rev. Hill learns that all the money is gone and Rafferty's husband lost it on a horse. The reverend then gives what is likely the shortest sermon in the church's history, he and the church lady hop on his motorcycle, and they go to see the husband's bookie in hopes of getting the money back. Rev. Hill is quickly ushered out the back door instead and the bookie joint has disappeared by the time he returns with the police. Infuriated, Rev. Hill starts using his televised sermons to go after The Mafia himself.
Instead of Rev. Hill taking evidence to Treasury agents himself, they come to him when they hear one of his televised sermons on New Campton's gambling problem. They want the male parishioners to help them take down the local gambling racket but, as what happened in real life, they all think it's a good idea but are afraid of getting involved. Also as what happened in real life, the T-Men are reluctant to have the women help. But the women are their only option so they are allowed to help, with similarly disastrous results and, again, they're forced to follow the money.
This film provides examples of
- Absurdly-Long Limousine: Vickie's station wagon in the opening credits.
- The Alleged Car:
- The Raffertys' modified Chevrolet Impala.
- Whatever Cleo was driving from the used car lot.
- Alliterative Name: Rose Rafferty.
- Amateur Sleuth: Rev. Hill and his Irregulars, albeit with guidance from the Intelligence Division of the Internal Revenue Service.
- Animated Credits Opening: One that shows an animated Rev. Hill and the Irregulars chasing down a Mafia member and, at one point, playing tug-of-war with the church.
- Badass Preacher: To a degree. In addition to taking on The Mafia, this Rev. Hill rides a Kawasaki.
- Based on a True Story
- Berserk Button: Don't break Claire's nails!
- Big Bad: Roca
- Butt-Monkey: Delaney Rafferty, who starts out clinging to the bell tower's rope, then goes Disguised in Drag, and ends up on a railroad bridge when trying to use the tracks as a shortcut.
- Car Fu: Attempted against the Big Bad at the climax of the impromptu demolition derby.
- Code Name: Doubling as Meaningful Name
- Rev. Michael "Home Plate" Hill
- Vickie "Kiddie Car" Sims
- Jane "June Bride" Chain-Carlisle
- Anne "Rookie" Woods
- Claire "Phantom Fox" Porter
- Cleo "Clunker" Jackson
- Rose "Blarney Stone" Rafferty
- Cool Car: Jane drives her fiance's 1959 Jaguar Mk. IX.
- Cool Old Guy: Delaney Rafferty and Rev. Wainwright
- Deadpan Snarker: Vickie has her moments.
- Disguised in Drag: Rose, the Irregular who started all this, doesn't drive so her husband dresses in drag and drives her around.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Instead of a Thief Bag being switched, a getaway van is disguised as a motorhome.
- Hot for Preacher: An attractive housewife hits on Rev. Hill while he's canvassing for assistance.
- Kicking Ass in All Her Finery: Jane engages in Car Fu - in her wedding dress!
- The Mafia
- Missing Mom: Mrs. Hill.
- My Beloved Smother: Poor Howard, if their scene in the bar with an undercover Jane is any indication.
- Oh, Crap!: The getaway van drives into what had been its fake RV cover with the driver facing the rear. The rear door opens to reveal Cleo's Ford cabover dump truck headed straight for him!
- Pants-Free: After the failed attempt at retrieving the church's money, Rev. Hill shows up with no pants. Having given them up to the cleaners fronting the gambling establishment.
- Police Are Useless: Only hinted at here.
- The Precious, Precious Car: Howard and his Jaguar.
- Shout-Out: To, of all things, The Bobbsey Twins.
- Slapstick: Here and there. The film starts off with a ladder gag.
- Stuff Blowing Up: The Mafia bombs North Avenue Presbyterian itself to discourage the Irregulars. It almost works.
- Team Mom: Vickie, the only one of the Irregulars who regularly takes children along.
- Thief Bag: Played with. The cash being followed is held in a lunch sack so no dollar sign.
- Those Two Guys:
- Treasury agents Marv and Tom.
- Rose and Delaney (in drag) also qualify.
- Very Loosely Based on a True Story: Disneyfication ensues, of course
