Parents' Guide to

Dennis the Menace

By Anne Louise Bannon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

In '80s cartoon, curious kid finds more trouble than before.

TV Boomerang Kids' Animation 1986
Dennis the Menace Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

Msberann
Msberann Adult
October 14, 2019
age 6+

Cute and funny!!! :)

I remember watching this as a kid and even if I don't remember it all I remember that I quite enjoyed it! Our main character Dennis is a cute and innocent kid who pretty much by mishaps get into some michevious adventures. The storylines with him and Mr. Wilson are my favourites, they're hilarious! :D And the other kids and their interactions are really cute and innocent too, which we doesn't see in many kids shows. Overall it's a very cute classic kid show that I think hold up still to this day! :)
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Back in the 1950s, when cartoonist Hank Ketchum first drew him, Dennis Mitchell was just an over-eager 5 year old with a gift for making his grumpy neighbor Mr. Wilson crazy. In this animated version from 1986-88, Dennis is still causing Mr. Wilson all kinds of physical and emotional pain, but in much larger ways, through adventures catching bank robbers and messing around in an army tank.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Taking Dennis' adventures outside the realm of normal kid experience hasn't really done much for the character. Dennis is still, fortunately, a good-hearted kid. Yet in pumping up the action, the cartoon loses much of its original charm and becomes too much like other cartoons in which kids fight bad guys and fly in space. If your kids can tell the difference between fantasy violence and real violence, it's mindless fun, but don't expect much else.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about cartoon pratfalls and violence. Why do people sometimes laugh when we see someone fall?

  • Parents can ask their children if they think Dennis is doing the right thing when he plows ahead with whatever scheme or interest he has. Why do they think Dennis never seems to get into any real trouble?

  • Families: Do you think kids' television always need to teach a lesson, or is it OK to watch for pure entertainment value?

TV Details

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