Problem Child Blu-Ray Review (Retro VHS Style)

By Paul Rudoff on Mar. 14, 2023 at 11:50 PM in Home Video

Problem Child (1990) arrives on Blu-ray as part of Mill Creek Entertainment's Retro VHS Style series, with packaging designed to look like the VHS videocassettes of the 1980s and 1990s. Several other titles in the series have already been reviewed on The Corner Penthouse, and I'm always excited when Mill Creek announces more. It's fun to see if it's a title I used to own on VHS, or one whose trailer I remember seeing at the start of some other VHS tape, or even some obscure movie I've never heard of before.

(Problem Child)

[ SYNOPSIS ]

Good-natured Ben Healy (John Ritter) and his social-climbing wife Flo (Amy Yasbeck) adopt seven-year-old Junior (Michael Oliver) to help brighten their lives. However, Junior soon turns an ordinary camping trip, an innocent birthday party, and even a little league baseball game, into full-scale comic nightmares. Thinking all his new son needs is some loving attention, Ben puts up with Junior's mishaps – but only to a point. Just as he's ready to take drastic action, Ben realizes that beneath the little monster lurks an angel craving affection in this satire on the trials of modern-day family life.

(Problem Child)

[ QUICK THOUGHTS ]

Problem Child (1990) is a film I remember from my childhood, but I can't say that I was a big fan. I probably found Junior to be rather annoying when I was younger, but now I like him. Everyone in the movie, except for father Ben, is a real a-hole. So, you really side with Junior and want him to give them their comeuppance. The movie is like a family friendly-ish version of The Bad Seed, a point made when someone tells Ben, "You got one bad seed there." It's rated PG for language, and includes some mean-spirited lines that they could never get away with today. When Ben suggests adoption to his wife Flo, she tells him, "I don't wear second-hand clothes. I don't want a second-hand kid." One of Junior's classmates says that "he's not even a real kid. He's adopted."

The cast does a great job. Michael Oliver is perfect as the devilish Junior, and John Ritter really nails the role of hapless father Ben. This is the film in which John met his future wife Amy Yasbeck, who plays his wife, Flo. Rounding out the cast is the annoyingly-voiced Gilbert Gottfried as adoption agent Mr. Peabody, and Michael Richards is a stand-out as Martin Beck, "The Bow Tie Killer". Wrestling fans take note of an appearance by "The Texas Tornado", Kerry Von Erich, as the "Neo Nazi" who reads Beck the letter while in prison. (image displayed below) Finally, be sure to stay tuned during the end credits to hear The Beach Boys sing the movie's theme song.

(Problem Child)

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

The movie is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a runtime of 1:20:47. The movie has been rated PG. Audio languages include English. Subtitle languages include English.

(Problem Child)

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

As is the case with most Mill Creek Entertainment releases, there are no bonus features - just like the original videocassette!

[ VHS SLIPCOVER ]

The real "bonus feature" here is the vintage-looking VHS-inspired slipcover, with faux wear and tear, and fake "rental stickers" on it, while giving the appearance of a videocassette being pulled out from the right side, complete with tape label side on the right spine. The VHS-style artwork may be based on the original U.S. or U.K. VHS box art, or bear a similarity to it, using the same or similar photos, but in a different orientation. The case artwork underneath is different, either made in a modern style, or perhaps sticking closer to the original theatrical movie poster. The VHS-style slipcover may only be available for a limited time.

No Digital Copy code is included.

[ NOTES ]

I have to point out that Problem Child (1990) is not the entirely of the Problem Child franchise. There was a sequel, appropriately titled Problem Child 2 (1991), which Universal released on Blu-ray a few years ago. Maybe Mill Creek will re-release it as part of the Retro VHS series, so it will pair with this new Blu-ray. If you don't want to wait for something that may or may not happen, buy the Universal Blu-ray now, along with the Retro VHS Blu-ray of the first film.

A third film was also produced, Problem Child 3: Junior in Love (1995), which was a made-for-television movie that did not feature Michael Oliver or John Ritter. Justin Chapman now plays the role of Junior, while William Katt (The Greatest American Hero) handles fatherly duties as Ben. The only actors who return are Gilbert Gottfried as Dr. Peabody and Jack Warden as Big Ben. There was also an animated series that ran for one season from 1993-1994. Gilbert Gottfried is the only actor from all three films to appear in the animated series.

Neither the third film, nor any of the 26 animated series episodes, have gotten a Region 1 (U.S., Canada) DVD release. If you want the third movie, you'll need a region-free DVD player, as it's only available on Region 2 (or 4?) DVD. For the animated series, you'll need to dig out that old VCR, as it's only been made available in several dual-episode VHS tapes (which aren't even close to being the complete series): Junior Meets Tiny Ben / Junior Healy Superstar, Sawdust, Tinsel and Junior / Grease My Palm, My Fair Cyndi / The Wilderness Healys, and The Weird Olympics / The Cyndi Kerrigan Story.