Problem Child Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A couple adopts a child demon who teaches them the true meaning of property damage and strained family relationships.

🍿 Problem Child: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Adoption and Early Troubles

Ben and Flo Healy, a loving couple, struggle to conceive and decide to adopt. They meet Junior, a seemingly charming 7-year-old from an orphanage. However, Junior’s history reveals he’s been returned by numerous foster families due to his mischievous and destructive behavior. Junior quickly makes his presence felt, causing chaos in the Healy household. From setting fires to injuring Ben’s father, Big Ben, disaster follows wherever Junior goes. Ben remains determined to make the adoption work, while Flo becomes increasingly exasperated.

Escaped Convict and Kidnapping

Meanwhile, Martin Beck, a notorious criminal known as the ‘Bow-Tie Killer,’ escapes from prison. Junior, who admires Beck, has been corresponding with him. The situation escalates when Beck, posing as Junior’s uncle, appears at their house. Beck kidnaps Junior and Flo, demanding a ransom. Ben is desperate to save them, leading to a confrontation with his selfish father, Big Ben, who refuses to help. Ben ultimately takes matters into his own hands, stealing the ransom money.

Circus Showdown and Rescue

Ben tracks Beck down to a circus, where a chaotic chase ensues. He manages to rescue Junior, and they pursue Beck, leading to a car chase. Flo, who was stuffed in a suitcase, ends up on a farm truck. The chase culminates in a crash, and Beck is apprehended. A bullet aimed at Ben is stopped by a ‘friendship prune’ given to him by his father and passed to Junior. This act of love, and the realization that Ben cares, marks a turning point for Junior.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Junior Healy (Michael Oliver): A mischievous and chaotic seven-year-old orphan who brings mayhem into the lives of his adoptive parents.
• Ben Healy (John Ritter): A kind-hearted man who desperately wants to be a father and adopts Junior, hoping to provide him with a loving home.
• Flo Healy (Amy Yasbeck): Ben’s status-obsessed wife who reluctantly agrees to adopt Junior to fit in with her social circle.
• Big Ben Healy (Jack Warden): Ben’s selfish and cantankerous father, who disapproves of the adoption and clashes with Junior.
• Igor Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried): The enthusiastic but somewhat irresponsible adoption agent who places Junior with the Healys.
• Martin Beck (Michael Richards): An escaped convict and Junior’s pen pal, who becomes a dangerous presence in the Healys’ lives.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Junior: “Hey, Martin! Let’s go see the bearded lady.” – Junior says this to his pen pal, the Bow Tie Killer, showing his fascination with the bizarre and twisted.
• Big Ben: “That kid’s bad news. I can smell it!” – Big Ben expresses his immediate distrust and dislike of Junior, foreshadowing the chaos he will bring.
• Igor Peabody: “We’ve had him since he was a baby. Nobody wants him.” – The orphanage manager bluntly tells the Healys about Junior’s long history of rejection.
• Junior: “Look, a giraffe!” – Junior distracts an opposing player so he can attack him with a baseball bat.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $11,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $53,470,891
• Worldwide Gross: $72,270,891

💥 Problem Child Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, I’ll admit it, I found ‘Problem Child’ hilarious when I was a kid. Seeing Junior unleash chaos was like a cartoon come to life. Now, watching it as an adult, it’s definitely crude and relies on over-the-top gags, but there’s still a nostalgic charm to it. I cringed at some parts but still laughed at others. The birthday party scene is still iconic. It’s a guilty pleasure, for sure!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of slapstick comedy”
  • “Viewers who enjoy films with mischievous characters”
  • “Those looking for lighthearted, albeit sometimes crude, entertainment”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mischievous and destructive behavior”
  • “Mild violence and crude humor”
  • “Some potentially offensive stereotypes”

Professional Reviews

• Common Sense Media: “While Problem Child aims for family comedy, it often crosses the line into bad taste with violent and mean-spirited antics. The humor is broad and cartoonish, which might appeal to some kids, but parents should be wary of the negative messages. The film lacks genuine heart and relies too heavily on shock value for its laughs. It’s a chaotic and ultimately unsatisfying experience.
• Rotten Tomatoes Critic Review: “Problem Child offers juvenile humor with a darkly comedic bent, showcasing the chaos unleashed by a mischievous young boy. While some may find the over-the-top antics funny, others might be put off by the film’s lack of subtlety and reliance on slapstick. It’s a polarizing film that ultimately depends on individual tolerance for its brand of humor.

Audience Reactions

Some found it hilarious as kids; others found it mean-spirited and unfunny.: Love or hate it, the film sparked debate about what’s appropriate for family entertainment.

Overall Consensus: A polarizing film with crude humor that some find hilarious and others find offensive.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The role of Junior Healy was highly sought after, with hundreds of child actors auditioning. Michael Oliver was ultimately chosen for his mischievous grin and ability to portray both innocence and deviousness.”
• “The filmmakers deliberately aimed for a blend of dark humor and slapstick, drawing inspiration from classic cartoons like Looney Tunes to create Junior’s over-the-top antics.”
• “Several scenes were filmed on location in Dallas, Texas, including the sporting goods store and various suburban neighborhoods, adding a sense of authenticity to the film’s setting.”

🖥️ How to Watch Problem Child?

Currently, ‘Problem Child’ is available for rent or purchase on various digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability as it may vary by region. You can also find physical copies (DVD, Blu-ray) at major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Problem Child, you might like these similar films:

• Dennis the Menace (1993): Shares the theme of a mischievous child creating chaos for his hapless neighbor, but with a more family-friendly tone.
• Home Alone (1990): Features a child outsmarting adults in comedic situations, though with a more action-oriented and heartwarming narrative.
• Bad Santa (2003): Another dark comedy about a character behaving badly, but geared toward adults with more explicit humor.
• The Good Son (1993): Explores the theme of a disturbing child, but this time with a darker, more suspenseful tone, focusing on psychological horror.

🛒 Problem Child Related Products

• Problem Child: The Complete Collection (DVD): Own the chaos! Get Problem Child, Problem Child 2, and Problem Child 3: Junior in Love all in one collection! Perfect for reliving the mayhem or introducing it to a new generation. Please note that Problem Child 3 is a TV movie, but the Collection is still worth buying to see the complete adventure.
• Dennis the Menace Cartoon Classics: Relive your childhood with the complete Dennis the Menace cartoon collection! Laugh along as Dennis gets into trouble and makes life interesting for Mr. Wilson. For viewers who like Problem Child and are also looking for a cartoon to watch, Dennis the Menace will do the trick.
• The Hilarious Adventures of Bart Simpson: Join Bart Simpson on his many escapades and see him get into his usual shenanigans. Fans who enjoy Junior Healy’s troublesome antics will get a kick out of Bart’s chaotic behavior as well!
• Novelty Baseball Bat: Get this baseball bat and cause mayhem, just like Junior! The bat is novelty and made of foam. It is 30-inches in size.

🎧 Soundtrack

Problem Child features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Bad to the Bone” – performed by George Thorogood

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Problem child-baseball

Remember that hilarious baseball scene? This is it, and it’s still as funny as you remember! I could watch this on repeat all day.

✨ Rate