The worst child in the world makes an unthinkable discovery: there is another child even worse than he is--and it's a girl.The worst child in the world makes an unthinkable discovery: there is another child even worse than he is--and it's a girl.The worst child in the world makes an unthinkable discovery: there is another child even worse than he is--and it's a girl.
- Awards
- 3 nominations
Krystle Mataras
- Dolly
- (as Krystal Mataras)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring a 2014 interview on Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski revealed that the studio was reluctant to rehire them, only doing so because they wanted to shoot a sequel before Michael Oliver could noticeably grow and, as the writers of the first film, could produce a script quicker than writers new to the story and characters of the franchise. Frustrated with the criticisms of Problem Child (1990), they deliberately increased the poor taste in the sequel, intending to make a Pasolini or John Waters film for children, and went so far overboard that the first cut received an R rating from the MPAA, a secret kept until their 2014 appearance on the podcast. Dubbing over Junior's use of the term "pussy whipped" got the film a PG-13 rating on appeal but the studio was still so nervous that, at the last minute, they added the Woody Woodpecker cartoon Smoked Hams (1947) to the film's theatrical release to reassure parents that the film was suitable for children.
- GoofsAfter Junior turns up the speed for the Crazy Dance, it is obvious the ride is going way too fast. The operators could have easily stopped the ride, yet they do nothing and let it keep running for more than a minute before it breaks down.
- Alternate versionsWhen shown on network television additional deleted scenes were added in to pad out time and edit out questionable content. The following is a list of the scenes.
- 1. When Junior enters the school, he asks Trixie for directions to the principal's office, she secretly puts a "kick me" sign on Junior's back.
- 2. Ben and Junior are seen in their living room recovering from their concussions. When Ben goes into the kitchen to try to find more ice, he asks Junior what happened to his head and Junior says a girl did it and that women are crazy. Ben tells him not all women are crazy and notices Debbie Claukinski doing yoga exercises next to a street pole. Ben goes outside to assist, causing Junior to make a vow to save him from the single women in the neighborhood.
- 3. A dialog scene before Big Ben notices that Dolly and Madison are selling his own clothes has him walking out of the house talking to a client on his cell phone which shortly after, the client angrily hangs up on him.
- 4. Another dialog scene occurs after LaWanda leaves their house when Big Ben explains that LaWanda is nuts over Ben. Junior tries to explain to his dad that he doesn't trust her but Ben verbally warns him not to talk about it as they made an agreement that Ben would spend more time with Junior as long as he behaves.
- 5. Additional scenes occur during the school's open house which has Murph pigging out at the refreshment table as well as Ben trying to explain to Annie that he could help her out with any problems that she has but Annie objects and tells Ben he wouldn't be able to.
- 6. Junior is in Annie's office with a nasty scratch on his arm. After she treats it she gets a call that Trixie stole their neighbor's station wagon and drove it through their house. Annie agrees to talk to her about it over dinner at Pizzarific. When Junior comes home he finds a stunned Ben telling him that LaWanda is in the hospital for rabies, a continuation of a sequence earlier where he switches her blood test with a rabid dog.
- 7. When Ben finds Junior missing, he gets a call from Annie saying Trixie is missing too. As Ben goes downstairs he trips over a bound-and-gagged Big Ben who is tied-up on the floor.
- ConnectionsEdited into Out on a Limb (1992)
- SoundtracksOnly the Strong Survive
Written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance
Performed by Bryan Adams
Courtesy of A&M Records
Featured review
"Problem Child" from 1990 is a film I loved as a child but don't like as an adult. It's sequel a year later is one that still remains in the pile of films I still like that I know are not truly good. Don't we all have those?
Let's recap the first film: Ben Healy (John Ritter) and his wife adopt troublemaker, Junior (Michael Olivier) and Ben is the only one to show the kid the love and affection that he had been longing for. With unlikeable characters (except for the caring John Ritter) and just a couple of funny scenes, the movie was a miss.
One year later, Ben, now a single parent, moves with Junior across the country to start a new life together. The place Ben decides to move to is Mortville-the divorce capital of the world. When they arrive, Ben tries to start his own business and get married. But Junior would much rather it be just him and his dad alone, especially when a broke Big Ben moves in.
Ben's answer to a wife seems to be cruel millionaire, Lawanda. Having been married six times prior, she is immediately taken into Ben's looks and charm. Junior hates her for good reason. He still pulls pranks for fun every now and again, but he must be his bad self to keep this bad woman away.
Junior crosses paths with little girl named Trixie who is younger, smaller, but way more vicious than Junior ever was. She's hilarious. He doesn't know that Trixie is the daughter of the timid school nurse. Amy Yasbeck also plays the nurse named Annie who is much better suited for Ben than Lawanda.
The pranks that Junior plays are funnier. The rivalry between Junior and Trixie is great, and there are simply more things in this to like in general. Let's not forget Gilbert Gottfried, who returns as Junior's principal. He is even funnier in this than he was in the first.
With some things being unclear and some of the humour being too silly and lowbrow, this will never be put at the same level of "City Slickers" and "The Naked Gun 2 1/2" which were the top comedies of 1991, but this still isn't that bad. There is enough charm and hilarity for most to like...only if you grew up with this.
Note: I will not be reviewing "Problem Child 3" because that would mean for me to rewatch it and that is something I vow never to do.
3/4.
Let's recap the first film: Ben Healy (John Ritter) and his wife adopt troublemaker, Junior (Michael Olivier) and Ben is the only one to show the kid the love and affection that he had been longing for. With unlikeable characters (except for the caring John Ritter) and just a couple of funny scenes, the movie was a miss.
One year later, Ben, now a single parent, moves with Junior across the country to start a new life together. The place Ben decides to move to is Mortville-the divorce capital of the world. When they arrive, Ben tries to start his own business and get married. But Junior would much rather it be just him and his dad alone, especially when a broke Big Ben moves in.
Ben's answer to a wife seems to be cruel millionaire, Lawanda. Having been married six times prior, she is immediately taken into Ben's looks and charm. Junior hates her for good reason. He still pulls pranks for fun every now and again, but he must be his bad self to keep this bad woman away.
Junior crosses paths with little girl named Trixie who is younger, smaller, but way more vicious than Junior ever was. She's hilarious. He doesn't know that Trixie is the daughter of the timid school nurse. Amy Yasbeck also plays the nurse named Annie who is much better suited for Ben than Lawanda.
The pranks that Junior plays are funnier. The rivalry between Junior and Trixie is great, and there are simply more things in this to like in general. Let's not forget Gilbert Gottfried, who returns as Junior's principal. He is even funnier in this than he was in the first.
With some things being unclear and some of the humour being too silly and lowbrow, this will never be put at the same level of "City Slickers" and "The Naked Gun 2 1/2" which were the top comedies of 1991, but this still isn't that bad. There is enough charm and hilarity for most to like...only if you grew up with this.
Note: I will not be reviewing "Problem Child 3" because that would mean for me to rewatch it and that is something I vow never to do.
3/4.
- Movie-ManDan
- Apr 29, 2021
- Permalink
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $25,104,700
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,372,880
- Jul 7, 1991
- Gross worldwide
- $32,704,700
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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