How a dark comedy sequel almost earned an R rating for its crude humor
In short: The 1991 film Problem Child 2 was designed by its writers to be a John Waters-style movie for children. By pushing the boundaries of bad taste, the production team accidentally secured an R rating from the MPAA, forcing a frantic scramble to edit the film for a PG-13 release.
Released in 1991, Problem Child 2 served as a sequel to the original film, featuring the return of John Ritter as Ben Healy and Michael Oliver as his adopted son, Junior. Directed by Brian Levant, the story follows the duo as they move to Mortville, Oregon, to escape their past. The plot centers on Junior’s rivalry with a fellow 'problem child' named Trixie and his attempts to sabotage his father’s romance with the wealthy, child-hating LaWanda DuMore. Despite its premise, the film was a departure from its predecessor in tone, as screenwriters Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski intentionally leaned into crude, transgressive humor.
The writers were frustrated by criticisms of the first film and aimed to create something akin to the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini or John Waters. This creative direction resulted in a first cut that the Motion Picture Association of America deemed inappropriate for children, assigning it an R rating. To secure a PG-13 rating, the studio had to appeal the decision and dub over specific profanity, such as the term 'pussy-whipped.' Even after these changes, the studio remained anxious about the film's reception, going so far as to attach a 1947 Woody Woodpecker cartoon, Smoked Hams, to the theatrical run to signal to parents that the feature was intended for families.
Critical reception was overwhelmingly negative, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 7% approval rating and Variety describing the script as 'fingerpainted.' Despite this, the film remained a box office success, doubling its budget in receipts, though it earned only half the U.S. box office total of the first film. The production was shot entirely on location in Orlando, Florida, between January 16 and March 15, 1991, utilizing sites like the then-new Universal Studios Florida. The film’s legacy is marked by its cynical reputation, yet it remains a curious example of how far a studio was willing to push a family-marketed franchise during the early 1990s.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Problem Child 2
- Also: Wikidata — Problem Child 2 · CC0
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