

Zany, brainy Merlin Jones returned for a second helping of scientific silliness in this follow-up to 1964’s The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. Stars Tommy Kirk and Annette Funicello returned as Merlin and girlfriend Jennifer, as did Leon Ames as Judge Holmsby.
Continuing his ongoing quest for knowledge, Merlin adopts a chimp named Stanley in order to conduct “sleep learning” experiments. The inventive technique is called into service when a pair of Midvale College football jocks need to pass an English exam. The two thickwits pass, but Merlin is accused of cheating and forced to explain his methods.
With one crisis contained, another rears its ugly head. A member of the Midvale College Board of Regents offers to pay the school $1 million if they axe the football program. Jeepers! The program’s salvation comes in the form of Darius Green III, a wealthy eccentric who offers to pay the school $10 million (!) if someone can make man fly. Merlin Jones is just that someone, and he gets cracking on a bicycle-powered flying machine.
As with the first film, Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman composed the title tune, this time sung by Funicello and the Beach Boys. Merlin gave up his wacky experiments after The Monkey's Uncle, but the torch was passed a decade later to up-and-comer Dexter Riley, star of The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.
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