Lets face it, Kids movies nowadays are pretty stupid. When you look back on kid movies from the 90's they are classics compared to today. One of them is Dennis The Menace.

The film is about Dennis Mitchell played by Mason Gamble who causes trouble for his Neighbor Mr. Wilson played by Walter Matthau who is not very happy with his antics. Meanwhile A man named Switchblade Sam played by Christopher Lloyd who likes to stare at children.

This is a very gentle film. The child actors are cute, Walter Matthaus performance is very good and the film is often very funny. However Christopher Lloyds performance is not the best and am I the only one that thinks Lloyd's character is creepy spying on children. Still I recommend it.

Rated PG For Comedic Mischief.

1hr 36min/96min.

****/****

For those who remember Jay North as the lively little kid who seems to take an almost fiendish delight in tormenting grumpy neighbor Mr. Wilson, this new Dennis The Menace feature film will bring back some good memories. Warner Brothers even had the foresight to cast Hollywood's number one specialist at curmudgeon roles Walter Matthau as the ever grumpy Wilson.

Young Mason Gamble is Dennis Mitchell, problem child deluxe. Parents Robert Stanton and Lea Thompson have trouble getting babysitters as Dennis's reputation is known far and wide. The next door neighbor Wilsons played byz Matthau and Joan Plowright take him, at least Plowright makes the offer.

The usual mayhem follows with Matthau the brunt. But when robber Christopher Lloyd steals Matthau's valuable coin collection, Dennis is on the case. What follows is what you see in the Home Alone films.

Gamble made a nice and appealing Dennis. But even natural scene stealers like kids are up against it when dealing with Walter Matthau. Poor Gamble didn't have a chance.

Dennis The Menace is a nice family film for a family movie night.

"Dennis the Menace" is a cute film and I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. That being said, it's not for everyone. For really young kids, the film is surprisingly scary...so I'd either watch it with them or skip it entirely. And, for teens, well, they hate family movies...so tell them to text their friends while the rest of you watch and enjoy the film.

The first portion consists of Dennis annoying poor Mr. Wilson (Walter Mathau) in 1001 different ways. Most of the time, it's because Dennis is just too hyper and inqusitive and finds many different ways to get into Mr. Wilson's things and ruin them. Later, after Mr. Wilson blows his temper and Dennis runs away, the film turns darker as a sleazy looking hobo kidnaps Dennis and threatens to hurt him.

This final portion is the part that young and very impressionable kids should probably not see. I wouldn't let most kids under 5 watch the film or at least I'd be there to reassure them it will be find. But it is quite funny and enjoyable...and adults and older kids will know that no matter what happens, Dennis will be safe. It's also a bit disgusting...wish it hadn't been so. But on balance, it's a fun little family film...one that I think even most grumpy adults could enjoy. And, as such, it seems a tad underrated on IMDB. Lots of fun for most of the family.