“Problem Child” is an extremely unfunny movie that only encourages extremely dangerous behaviour and antisocial characteristics. It would be less problematic if it was aimed more at older kids.

In “Problem Child”, Ben (John Ritter “Bad Santa”) and the wacky Flo (Amy Yasbeck “The Mask”) are a couple that can’t have children of their own. They decide to adopt Junior (Michael Oliver) from Mr. Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried “Aladdin”). After a series of horrid events, it is clear Junior is a problem child. Junior is just a demented as Macaulay Culkin’s (the kid from “Home Alone”) character in “The Good Son” as he brutally beats fellow players in a baseball match and tries to kill his dad and other campers by making a bear attack them. After driving his parents crazy, a serial killer, who Junior admires (horrid I know), appears and kidnaps him and his new mother. I agree with Ben when he thinks it is great they’re gone and starts celebrating like there’s no tomorrow.

Both Ben and Flo are played appallingly by John Ritter and Amy Yasbeck, who do nothing to make the characters enjoyable. Michael Oliver is unfunny as the awful Junior. Nothing about his acting or the character himself is amusing. The serial killer is unfunny and feels incredibly out of place in what is supposed to be a family film.

“Problem Child” is incredibly stupid and unfunny beyond comprehension. None of the characters are amusing and nothing about the film is entertaining. “Problem Child” is a sick movie to me. Nothing about it feels suitable for the family audience it wants to reach. “Problem Child” may seem like a cute “Dennis the Menace” rip-off at first but it quickly becomes a movie that feels like a demented thriller that has been presented in poor taste as a family comedy. I feel no young child should watch this because of the dangers prompted by this most disappointing film.