The co-stars include Michael Lembeck, Lisa Eilbacher, Bill Russell, Maureen Stapleton, and Norman Fell.

A young, homeless shoeshine 10 years old boy named Lester (Coleman) is living in a locker at Union Station, Chicago.

Already a beloved figure among the staff at the station who look after him, and avoiding attempts to move him to an orphanage, he finds great popularity after it is revealed that he has an amazing talent for picking winning horses at the racetrack.

Due to his success on television with the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, child actor Gary Coleman's popularity led to development of film projects where he can play the lead.

Coleman portrays a 10-year-old orphan shoeshine boy named Lester (Chicago) lives in a locker in Union train Station.

The shoeshine concessioner calls juvenile services to inform them that an orphan his living in the train station stealing his business, Frank Biscardi (Lembeck) is sent to investigate.

He makes a deal with the mayor that he can win a million dollars for the city if he can run his own business in the station, as long as the money goes to school, sanitation and social services.

After his first introduction of the NBC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in November 1978, child actor Gary Coleman quickly gained popularity, a production company was formed to showcase him in films and telefims.

[7] Coleman's attorney Harry Evans Sloan explained the film was a financial success and added 10 to 15 Million dollar revenue on videocassette rentals.

[8] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune, said the film "is a charming motion picture that reveals young Mr. Coleman can act."

[10] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times, while pointing out that the film was created as a vehicle for Coleman, it had good acting, writing, and photography.

Of the film h e said that director Lee Phillips, "with the help of a fine cameraman, Jack Richards, has made "On the Right Track" handsome, energetic and even, at times, lyrical.

Writers-producers Tina Pine, Avery Buddy and Richard Moses have created likably less-than-perfect human beings for Eilbacher and Michael Lembeck to play.

[12] Richard Freedman of The Times-News felt it "was a sentimental comedy that unfortunately gets derailed early on", however he did note the film had a good nature.

[13] Michael Blowen of The Boston Globe did not like the film, he found the directing weak and added that "the plot rambles on in its own farcical, pedestrian fashion until you expect the entire cast to gag on their lines".

[15] Richard Labonté of the Ottawa Citizen found it simple and explained that "it is a film for the easily entertained and the eagerly unenlightened".

Is overall consensus is that "director Lee Phillips makes the most of bis expansive location using suspended-in-air shots and plenty of chase scenes to heighten the film's pacing Rated PG for just a smidgen of adult language "On the Right Track” is by and large an enjoyable kiddie flick with enough adult humor to amuse mom and dad".