Problem Child (1990)
Average Rating: 2.4/10
Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 23
Mean-spirited and hopelessly short on comic invention, Problem Child is a particularly unpleasant comedy, one that's loaded with manic scenery chewing and juvenile pranks.
Average Rating: 3.2/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 7
Mean-spirited and hopelessly short on comic invention, Problem Child is a particularly unpleasant comedy, one that's loaded with manic scenery chewing and juvenile pranks.
liked it
Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 55,492
Movie Info
An adoptive parent discovers that some children are given up by their biological parents for very good reasons in this dark comedy. Ben Healy (John Ritter) is a pleasant but brow-beaten yuppie working for his father Big Ben (Jack Warden), a tyrannical sporting goods dealer. Ben would love to have a son, but his wife Flo (Amy Yasbeck) has been unable to conceive. Ben approaches less-than-scrupulous adoption agent Igor Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried) with his dilemma, and Igor presents Ben and Flo
Jul 27, 1990 Wide
Oct 19, 1999
Universal Pictures
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Cast
-
John Ritter
Ben Healy -
Michael Oliver
Junior -
Amy Yasbeck
Flo Healy -
Gilbert Gottfried
Mr. Igor Peabody -
Jack Warden
Big Ben Healy Sr. -
Michael Richards
Martin Beck -
Peter Jurasik
Roy -
Charlotte Akin
Lorraine -
Anna Marie Allred
Kid #3 -
Adam Anderly
Catcher -
Robert A. Anderson
Boy in Chair -
Cody Beard
Second Baseman -
Jordan Burton
Kid #1 -
Eli Cummins
Umpire -
Vince Davis
Clown -
Justin Elledge
Freddy -
Eric Elterman
All-American Boy -
Ward Emling
Mr. Henderson -
-
John William Galt
Warden -
Corki Grazer
Sister Mary -
Vernon Grote
Guard #2 -
Philip Hjin
Mr. Yangita -
Helena Humann
Mother Superior -
Melody Jones
Sister Abigail -
Danny Kamekona
Mr. Hirohito -
Eiichi Edward Kawanb...
Mr. Mitsui -
Colby Kline
Lucy -
Josef Kolb
Kid No. 5 -
Hugh Lampman
Master of Ceremonies -
Ellen F. Locy
Nun #2 -
Kristen Lowman
Mrs. Henderson -
Joshua Martin
Shortstop -
Melissa Martin
Friend No. 1 -
Willie Minor
Guard #1 -
Norma Moore
Sister Samantha -
Kristy Lynne Patrick
Kid #2 -
Eric Poppick
Dr. Strauss -
Dennis Redfield
Cameraman -
Lico Reyes
Pedro -
Shaun Shimoda
Kinjo Hirohito -
Garry Smith
Angry Little Person -
Josh Stoppelwerth
Kid #4 -
Al Trejo
Policeman -
Alex Utroska
Kid in Dugout -
Kerry Von Erich
Neo Natzi -
Jack Willis
Regular Joe -
Ed Yeager
Jim O'Conner -
Jessica Zucha
Serious Girl -
Dennis Dugan
All-American Dad -
Florence Schauffler
Mrs. Perkins -
-
-
John S. Davies
Paramedic -
Judy Jones
Anchorperson -
John O'Connell
Psychiatrist
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Problem Child Trailer & Photos
All Critics (24) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (23)
Some kids are born bad. Others achieve badness. And some have badness thrust upon them. The same can be said of movies.
Inside Dennis Dugan's uncertainly staged, awkwardly sentimental Problem Child is another movie fighting to get out-one that's much meaner and probably more interesting.
The rest of the kid's tricks are too unimaginative to be much fun -- though with jokes this lame you won't have to worry as much about your children getting any bad ideas.
Universal took a step in the right direction by whittling Problem Child down to just 81 minutes but didn't go far enough. The studio should have excised another 75 minutes and released this unbelievable mess as a short.
Enough to make you gag.
Top CriticAs directed by the actor Dennis Dugan, everyone seems to be yelling their lines and making huge hand gestures instead of acting.
Smart beginning, witless ending.
Pipsqueak comedy that does not have the courage of its own convictions.
It's too bad the editors of Problem Child couldn't have saved time and money by just putting the whole film through a shredder.
Antics of a diabolical child are neither valuable nor funny.
The film gets so lost in angry pranks, it forgets to provide a reason why Junior shouldn't be hung from the nearest tree...The worst movie of all time? Problem Child.
Grating, irritating, truly a problem movie calling itself a comedy.
Child abuse
There are amusing moments here and there and John Ritter offers an ingratiating performance, but that's about it.
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