Willie Wade (Marc Gilpin), an eight-year-old living in Kerrville, Texas, has invented a computer that can control electronic devices. He lives with his parents Charlie (Henry Darrow), the sheriff, and Beth (Katherine Woodville), and his puppy Digit. His best friend is Tracks (Rock Montanio).
Where's Willie? contains examples of:
- Acting Unnatural: Charlie takes Willie and Tracks fishing. While Charlie is getting some stuff from the car, Willie attaches a device to attract fish to Charlie's fishing line, even though he doesn't want Willie messing around with computers. When Charlie gets back, Willie and Tracks are both humming loudly and making awkward conversation about fish.
- Child Prodigy: Willie.Charlie: He has an IQ of 180. His hobby is calculus. He's building a bionic rabbit, and all by himself, he tied up every car in Kerrville in a traffic jam!
- Fantasy-Forbidding Father: After Willie hacks the clock at school so the kids can leave early, Charlie announces that all the computers and machinery will be removed from his room, and he'll have to fill it with balls at bats instead.
- Hack the Traffic Lights: Willie's computer can hack almost anything, from actual traffic lights to the clock at school to locked doors.
- Imagine Spot: When it's discovered that Willie and Tracks were responsible for the town's power outage, he imagines a judge sentencing the two of them to jail.
- Jock Dad, Nerd Son: Charlie loves hiking, fishing, and sports, and doesn't understand Willie's interest in electronics at all.
- Mr. Smith: While he's running away, Willie introduces himself to a stranger on the bus as Billy Smith.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Willie messes with the traffic lights in order to give old people more time to cross the street, but only succeeds in causing a massive traffic jam. He is sent to bed without supper, and Charlie orders him not to do any more good deeds.
- Questioning Title?
- The Runaway: Willie packs Digit in his backpack and takes a bus to Dallas, causing his parents to realize how unfairly they've been treating him.
- Special Thanks: "Our deepest thanks to the Texas Film Commission, and the citizens and officials of Kerrville, Texas... (It's a nice place to live!)"
- Stocking Mask: Willie and Tracks wear these when they rob the bank. Willie isn't sure what the masks are for, but he brings them along because that's how bank robbery is done.
- Title Drop: Early in the morning, Charlie and Beth walk into the kitchen and ask each other simultaneously, "Where's Willie?"
