 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Little Rascals (1994)
- Review Date: September 18, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1994
Common Sense Media says
Madcap, mischievous Our Gang remake.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this remake of the 1930s classic espouses some of the same prejudices as the original, relying on some "girls are gross" and anti-gay humor. The good news here is that the cast is integrated and it's less racist than the original. But there are things that would scare younger children, including thunder and a large Doberman that jumps on Alfalfa, knocking him over. The clubhouse catches fire and the kids put it out by themselves. Alfalfa drinks dish soap and bubbles come out when he sings -- parents may want to warn kids that this prank won't work as advertised.
What's the story?
It may be 1994 Los Angeles, but Our Gang hasn't changed: Spanky (Travis Tedford) is calling together the gang for an emergency meeting of the He-Man Womun Haters Club to talk about the upcoming go-cart race. But their star driver, Alfalfa (Bug Hall), is breaking the club's first rule: "to be a he-man and hate women ... " He's wooing Darla (Brittany Ashton Holmes) with his warbling songs. In trying to break the pair up, the gang accidentally sets the clubhouse on fire; then, local bullies Butch (Sam Saletta) and Woim (Blake Jeremy Collins) steal their prize-winning go-cart. To top it off, a new kid moves to town: Waldo (Blake McIver Ewing), a rich jerk who wears a suit and tie and has Donald Trump as a father (really).
Is it any good?
Our Gang was a classic -- a slapstick retelling of adult dating woes through the outlandish eyes of adult-ified kids. THE LITTLE RASCALS (1994) recaptures that essence with mostly positive results. There are some great Our Gang moments here, with many scenes resurrecting those hilarious physical comedy gags of the original series. Alfalfa sings "The Barber of Seville" while bubbles come out of his mouth, an homage to the original Little Rascals TV series. And the film retains the fast-forward chase scenes and images that lovers of the original will remember fondly.
There are also some great cameos: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Whoopi Goldberg, Reba McEntire, Mel Brooks, Raven Symone, and Lea Thompson.
But children today may be confused by the references and some of the behavior. Everyone knows children don't say things like "effrontery" and "Darla, you have the sophistication of a woman of 12" -- and they probably never did. But the kids in The Little Rascals did in the 1930s and continue to in the remake.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about whether the things they see in the movie can really happen. Can you put out a fire with water balloons? Can you really burp and fart bubbles if you drink dish soap? What should you do if you get into a dangerous situation like the Our Gang group does?
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Teen, 13 years old
January 23, 2009
AGE
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUNNY
YOU SHOULD DEFINATLEY SEE THIS MOVIE IT IS SO GOOD
VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY funny
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Kid, 8 years old
April 24, 2011
AGE
good movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my dad was is a big fan for the cartoons. i think he didn't like the movie. anyway,the only bad stuff was the laugage and sexy stuff.there was not any laugage until the end when they say bite m*and su**.the kids do kiss,but it is mild.also afalf's undearwear falls down , but it is off-screen.there is violence and bad role models,i don't have time to talk about that.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
LOL Funny
I just watched this movie today and the only movie was funny.
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Teen, 14 years old
July 18, 2009
AGE
funny
This movie is so funny and almost as good as the original. Theres like nothing bad in it. It could be rated G. I watched it when i was siiiix
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Kid, 9 years old
February 8, 2011
AGE
see it
this is good but has learning stuff language Darla says hate spanky is bad role model but at end he is so i rate this the best 4 5t iffy for4t to 1t soits really really sweet nega cool movie so watch it or rent it to me this is the best kid movie in the hole world
What other families should know:
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Kid, 7 years old
April 14, 2009
AGE
YOU MISSED SOME LAUNGE IT HAS JERK AND PUNK
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
November 15, 2009
AGE
Remake of our Gang satisfies
Parents need to know that the remake of Our Gang features Little Kids acting like adults,gay humor,and sexicm.
The movie is great but not meant for kids under 6.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
September 6, 2010
AGE
'Wittle' songs stuck in my head
Me and my cousins were wathcing this in the car,now we can't stop singing ' we got a dollar' and 'we are he man women haters,we feed girls to alligators'
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Kid, 12 years old
June 22, 2010
AGE
The Big Rascals
This was a very cute movie that my classmates and I absolutely loved! We were always begging for more! It was a very loving movie.
What other families should know:
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Penelope Spheeris |
| Cast: | Brittany Ashton Holmes, Bug Hall |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 83 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | September 18, 1994 |
| DVD release date: | January 20, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some rude dialogue. |
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