Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
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Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! is a slapstick comedy from 1998 based on the newspaper comic franchise. There's some body-part humor like a closeup looking up someone's nose and getting hit in the backside with darts. One kid punches another in the arm. A few potty insults like "poo-poo head," and one use of "hell." Dennis's father frequently has a pipe, but no smoke comes out of it. Stereotyping messages abound: girls are gross, the super-feminine Margaret openly wants to manipulate Dennis into liking her, and that getting old is bad. Worst of all, the White villains wear many disguises, and one puts on brown face and uses a terrible accent pretending to be from South Asia. A scene with fake doctors conducting a physical exam is dark, has scary sounds, and distorted and startling images.
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What's the Story?
DENNIS THE MENACE STRIKES AGAIN! after his grandfather (George Kennedy) arrives and announces he's moving in with Dennis (Justin Cooper) and his parents. Next-door neighbor Mr. Wilson (Don Rickles) is thrilled that Dennis will have someone else to pester, and looks forward to some peace and quiet around his house for a change. But Mr. Wilson actually becomes jealous of Grandpa and tries to outdo him in everything. His antics attract the attention of two con artists, who try to swindle Mr. Wilson with fake anti-aging products and unneeded home repairs. Even though Dennis is spending more time with Grandpa, he still manages to accidentally find ways to make Mr. Wilson's life so miserable that he's now determined to sell his house and move far away. Meanwhile, Dennis's "frenemy" Margaret (Jaqueline Steiger) tries to lure Dennis away from his other friends, and even manages to get him to a tea party! Can Dennis's friends rescue him from Margaret's clutches? And can the con men keep Dennis away from Mr. Wilson long enough to get their hands on Mr. Wilson's money? And are Mr. and Mrs. Wilson really, finally moving out for good?
Is It Any Good?
There's a nugget of a fairly entertaining family movie in here, somewhere, but there are just too many shortcomings to make it enjoyable to viewers outside of the target age group. Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! has all the pratfalls, potty and body-part humor, giant bugs, belly flops, and ooey-gooey messes that kids will find hilarious. And there's a little bit of heart in this version of Dennis as a good, friendly kid who's trying to be helpful but who always manages to cause chaos and destruction by accident. The kids in the cast are pretty cute, but except for a very young Alexa Vega as a standout, they aren't yet very strong actors.
Unfortunately, it's also got more than enough cliches and stereotypes, even a cringe-worthy White actor in brown face, to drive older viewers away. They may also be put off by a 7-year-old character using her "feminine wiles" to catch her (also 7-year-old) man. Little kids may be confused by the subplot with the con men, and possibly a little frightened by the scary "doctors' exam" scene.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about role models and stereotypes in Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! Are there any good role models? Who? What are the stereotypes, and why are they harmful?
Dennis the Menace has been around since 1951. Why do you think he's lasted so long? What do people like about him?
What are some of your favorite comedies for family movie night?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 14, 1998
- On DVD or streaming: January 28, 2003
- Cast: Don Rickles, Betty White, Justin Cooper
- Director: Charles T. Kanganis
- Studio: HBO Max
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship
- Run time: 75 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
For kids who love family tales
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