Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

Problem Child Blu-ray Movie Review

A nostalgic favorite earns a bare-bones Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 12, 2017

We've adopted satan!

Kids may say the darnedest things, but rarely do they wreak havoc quite like little Junior (Michael Oliver), the poster boy for problem children in Director Dennis Dugan's (Happy Gilmore) aptly titled Problem Child. He's a seven-year-old godsend straight from hell, the child a couple always wanted, except they did't want him, a boy who finds great joy in dastardly terror. A light roller coaster film of misadventure, mayhem, criminality, unappreciated good intentions, and a bit of tenderness, the film comically explores the bond between father and son -- even if they're not biologically connected -- that's stretched to its breaking point, and then some, healed only by that magical draw of two hearts that might not always understand one another but that do share one thing in common: a yearning for togetherness, even if that means a bit of juvenile destruction thrown in for good measure.

Big trouble under the big top.

Ben (John Ritter) and Flo (Amy Yasbeck) Healy want nothing more than to have a child. He wants one because he has plenty of love to share. She wants one for social status. They've been trying for years, but their dreams are dashed when it's discovered that Flo's body is incapable of bearing a child. That leaves them with only one option: adoption. Their adoption agent (Gilbert Gottfried) gives them only one choice for immediate adoption, a little seven-year-old boy named Junior. He's no ordinary child, though. He's a major trouble maker. He has a mouth, a knack for getting into trouble, and finds joy in making life hell for everyone around him. Of course, the Healy's have no idea what they're getting. Junior plays it close to the vest for a little bit, but it doesn't take long for him to reveal his true self to his adoptive parents. Flo is ready to be rid of him quickly and Ben's unloving father and political candidate Ben Sr. (Jack Warden) sees right through the boy, but Ben is determined to make it work. That becomes ever more complicated when Junior befriends a deadly escaped convict (Michael Richards), but the boy may be more dangerous than any serial killer.

It often feels like Problem Child is shaped more by its individual moments rather than a more traditional front-to-back arcing narrative. Its relatively brief sub-90 minute runtime is made of a number of one-off establishing and reinforcing sequences that see Junior getting in trouble at the orphanage, crashing a camping trip, bashing a birthday party, or battering his opponents at a baseball game. The movie's plot is relatively loose, that being the story of how Ben truly loves his adoptive son no matter his hellish antics, how much he trashes the house, how much strain he puts on Ben's relationship with his wife and father, no matter how much money it costs him. He does reach a breaking point, reading The Exorcist and dead to the world and soon thereafter putting a plan in motion to smother the boy, but he, of course, comes to realize that Junior really does care for him, in his own way, of course, because he's the only person to ever care for Junior. The film has its share of tender moments when things briefly come together for the family or the audience catches a glimpse of the real and wounded Junior that exists behind the hellish front. It's done rather well. The movie doesn't overdo the mushiness, selling its wares as a Comedy first, but Dugan always finds the right moment to compliment Junior's antics with a touching reminder that there's a person there in need of love, not just another person to toss him aside which in turn means more targets for his childish wrath.

Dugan's cast is terrific, too. The late John Ritter delivers one of his most unheralded performances as Ben, the father who is hopeful for the future with his son and hopelessly naive once Junior comes into the picture. He stretches with the plot masterfully, maintaining his status quo or cheerful fatherhood and determination to make things right for his new family, even as his world crumbles around him. Ben finally breaks, Ritter nails the dead-to-the-world trance, and he snaps back out the moment he realizes that Junior, in his own way, has reciprocated the love Ben has shown him in his own way. A flip switches, and it's back to "super dad" mode. Jack Warden and Amy Yasbeck are solid as two characters who can be seen as more antagonistic to Ben than even Junior, would-be allies, true "family" who dismiss him and deride him at every turn. Yet it is, unsurprisingly, Michael Oliver who shines brightest as the title character, the little boy with the face of an angel and the actions of a devil. He carries out the mayhem with purpose, delivers the lines with conviction, and is fully convincing as a child who may be more than problematic but who just needs a little love and a gentle touch to the shoulder, not a harsh slap to the behind, to make him see the light, at least momentarily. Kind or reminds this writer of a certain cat in his family...

Problem Child Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

All things considered, Problem Child looks pretty good on Blu-ray. Universal's 1080p transfer may be far from perfect, but it's a surprisingly solid, sometimes robust presentation of the 90s fan-favorite. There's no mistaking a sometimes harsh, rough grain structure that can be more snowy and spiky than unobtrusively complimentary, but the image appears to not be a victim of serious detail-destroying noise reduction, anyway. Details hold very firm. Clothes are particularly stout in close-up, which include a wide variety from the nuns' habits to baseball uniforms. Some of those uniforms show a tangible level of dirt and wear. The same goes for Martin's stolen beater car. Colors can appear a touch faded in a few scenes, but rich primaries -- bright reds, deep blues, natural greens -- often find plenty of flavor. A birthday party partway through the film is probably the most impressively diverse and precise. Black levels could stand a little more depth, but flesh tones appear fairly accurate. A couple of soft shots and sporadic print wear are evident, but never distracting. Fans should be more-or-less pleased with this presentation.

Problem Child Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Problem Child's DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack has its moments of harshness, but the presentation by-and-large compliments and carries the film well enough. Shrieking effects and unkempt details define the open, but things tighten up nicely enough to deliver scenes like Junior crashing a car through a store or musical numbers like It's My Party with satisfying detail and delivery. Spacing along the front is suitably wide and dialogue angles towards the center naturally enough. The spoken word finds good clarity and prioritization, too. Minor ambient effects, such as the din of an orphanage cafeteria or background clutter at a sporting goods store, fill the front side of the stage well enough.

Problem Child Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Problem Child's Blu-ray release is as bare-boned as they come. No extras are included.

Problem Child Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Problem Child remains an enjoyable little romp through the hells of raising a bad seed child in contemporary suburbia, but it also remains a tender little tale of the power of love to tame even the most problematic child. Solid performances and a number of enjoyable scenes shape the film. It's a re-watchable little slice of nostalgia that's a welcome addition to Blu-ray, even with middling audio and no extras. Hopefully Universal will soon release the lesser, but no less enjoyable, sequel. Recommended.