Problem Child 2 (1991)

Problem Child 2 Poster

Junior and his father, Ben, move from Cold River to Mortville. Junior becomes threatened by Ben's desire to date again and find a new mother for Junior, and sabotages each of his dates.

Introduction to "Problem Child 2"
"Problem Child 2" is a 1991 American funny film directed by Brian Levant and is the sequel to the 1990 movie "Issue Kid". The movie continues the story of the naughty and trouble-prone Junior, played by Michael Oliver, and his adoptive daddy, Ben Healy, played by John Ritter. Regardless of being a crucial failure, the film became popular among audiences, especially kids, for its slapstick humor and outrageous situations.

Plot Summary
As the film begins, we see Junior Healy and his father, Ben, moving to the idyllic town of Mortville, branded as the "divorcee capital of the world". Ben, a helpless romantic, remains in search of a new start and perhaps a brand-new love, while Junior secretly wants to dissuade any potential stepmothers from entering their lives, fearing they will break the bond he has with his father.

Soon after their arrival, the Healys face a series of misadventures. Junior quickly makes an opponent at school - the school bully Murdoch, however he also satisfies a kindred spirit in Trixie Young, a young girl as troublesome as himself. Unbeknownst to the kids, Trixie's mother, Annie, played by Laraine Newman, captures Ben's heart, though their relationship is pestered by the disruptive antics of their kids.

In an effort to find a brand-new mom for Junior, Ben becomes engaged to the apparently sweet-natured and rich LaWanda Dumore, played by Jack Warden. LaWanda, nevertheless, is computing and self-indulgent, and Junior is determined to reveal her true colors to his daddy before it's too late.

Junior's techniques to screw up Ben's love life range from harmless tricks to outrageous public embarrassments. The situation comes to a head when LaWanda gives Ben an ultimatum: send out Junior to a boarding school or say goodbye to their relationship. Ben's unwillingness to give up on Junior sets the stage for a frantic climax.

Climactic Conflicts and Resolution
The climax of the motion picture brings numerous conflicts to a head. During LaWanda's and Ben's wedding, Junior pulls his most sophisticated tricks, exploiting LaWanda's worry of clowns and culminating in a chaotic catastrophe that leaves the wedding event in ruins and lastly exposes LaWanda for the bad guy she is.

Parallel to this, Ben starts to understand that his real sensations lie with Annie, who has proven to be understanding and accepting of Junior's habits. On the other hand, Trixie executes her own plan to repel the egotistical LaWanda, using her family pet collection to horrify her. The respective plans of Junior and Trixie lead to chaos, efficiently ruining the wedding event and causing LaWanda's departure.

Conclusion and Aftermath
In the after-effects, Ben and Junior, now free from LaWanda, pair up with Annie and Trixie, forming a brand-new family unit based upon love and mutual understanding. The final scenes highlight the lesson that household matters more than anything which the ideal family is not constantly conventional.

Despite the many trials and adversities, the Healys discover joy in their special method. The motion picture closes with the promise of a clean slate for the combined household. "Problem Child 2" eventually provides a story about the rough road to happiness, the worth of acceptance, and the power of love to conquer even the most disorderly barriers.

Top Cast

  • John Ritter (small)
    John Ritter
    Ben Healy
  • Michael J. Oliver (small)
    Michael J. Oliver
    Junior Healy
  • Jack Warden (small)
    Jack Warden
    Big Ben Healy
  • Laraine Newman (small)
    Laraine Newman
    LaWanda Dumore
  • Amy Yasbeck (small)
    Amy Yasbeck
    Annie Young
  • Ivyann Schwan
    Trixie Young
  • Gilbert Gottfried (small)
    Gilbert Gottfried
    Igor Peabody
  • Paul Willson (small)
    Paul Willson
    Smith
  • Alan Blumenfeld (small)
    Alan Blumenfeld
    Aron Burger
  • Charlene Tilton (small)
    Charlene Tilton
    Debbie Claukinski
  • James Tolkan (small)
    James Tolkan
    Mr. Thron