Dennis the Menace, 1993
I'm sure that this post kind of seems out of place, being that it isn't exactly considered one of the finest pictures ever made. But, being that I have quite the soft spot for this movie, being that I have been watching it for as long as I can remember, I decided that it wouldn't hurt to write about 1993's Dennis the Menace.
Based off of characters from a 1950s comic strip, the story centers around the misadventures of a five year old boy named Dennis, his dog Ruff, and his long-suffering neighbor, the elderly Mister Wilson. Although well-meaning, Dennis can't seem to stay in Mister Wilson's good graces. The plot of the movie is somewhat weak; The Wilsons must babysit Dennis while his parents go out of town on a business trip, and the quiet town is disturbed by the presence of a robber. Granted, it isn't the best story, but this is a movie that's not looking to get any prizes; it just wants to entertain. And it certainly does.
The role of Dennis was given to a boy by the name of Mason Gamble. He is so magnificent in this movie. I think it's because he, along with the rest of the cast of children, were allowed to just be kids and play. Gamble brings both innocence and an air of believing that he possesses supreme intelligence often exhibited by small children to his role. Dennis, buddy Joey and tag-along Margaret, definitely get the best lines in the movie. Dennis in particular, is hilarious, especially when he's explaining something that the other kids don't get. Take the children's discussion of parenthood:
Margaret: You know why men are so lousy when it comes to taking care of babies?
Dennis: They have better things to do.
Margaret: Like what, play golf and drink beer?
Dennis: No, like hunting, having wars, driving cars, shaving, cleaning fish. Do you know how to do that?
Margaret: If you didn't have women, you wouldn't have babies, which means you wouldn't have people.
Joey: If you didn't have men, who'd drive the ladies to the hospital?
Dennis: The most important thing is, they marry the women, then the women can go down and get the baby.
Margaret: The baby is in her stomach.
Dennis: She has to get it installed, her stomach just isn't filled up with babies.
Margaret: Who installs them?
Dennis: A minister and a doctor.
Upon being questioned on exactly how babies are installed, Dennis informs them that the bellybutton opens up. Margaret then asks him why men have bellybuttons, to which Dennis replies matter- of- factly, "So they don't look weird in bathing suits."
I tend to find most children in films to be quite obnoxious. I think it's because they're trying too hard to be actors, rather than just being kids at play. Here lies the brilliance of Dennis the Menace. Producer John Hughes made sure that his actors were normal kids, having a good time and playing with their friends. The kids were relaxed and clearly having a good time.
The second essential aspect to Dennis the Menace is Mister Wilson. The producers had a stroke of genius when they decided to cast Walter Matthau as the archetypal crotchety old man neighbor. He is gruff, sarcastic, acerbic, grouchy, and tender all rolled up into one great package. His performance is balanced by Joan Plowright as his good-natured wife Martha. Although I'm not the biggest fan of Joan Plowrights, I have to admit that I quite like her in this movie, and I think that she compliments Matthau wonderfully and she provides the perfect foil for him. She is particularly touching in a scene when she recites the poem "Winkin' Blinkin' and Nod" to Dennis before she puts him to bed for the night.
The biggest laugh in the entire movie is gotten my Matthau. Unaware that Dennis has knocked the front teeth out of his dentures and replaced them with Chicklets gum, when having his picture taken for the local paper, he gives a big happy smile:
What makes Dennis the Menace enjoyable is its sense of fun. It's not trying to impress, it doesn't take itself seriously, and it just has fun. It really is such a likable film that I have always enjoyed watching.
The role of Dennis was given to a boy by the name of Mason Gamble. He is so magnificent in this movie. I think it's because he, along with the rest of the cast of children, were allowed to just be kids and play. Gamble brings both innocence and an air of believing that he possesses supreme intelligence often exhibited by small children to his role. Dennis, buddy Joey and tag-along Margaret, definitely get the best lines in the movie. Dennis in particular, is hilarious, especially when he's explaining something that the other kids don't get. Take the children's discussion of parenthood:Margaret: You know why men are so lousy when it comes to taking care of babies?
Dennis: They have better things to do.
Margaret: Like what, play golf and drink beer?
Dennis: No, like hunting, having wars, driving cars, shaving, cleaning fish. Do you know how to do that?
Margaret: If you didn't have women, you wouldn't have babies, which means you wouldn't have people.
Joey: If you didn't have men, who'd drive the ladies to the hospital?
Dennis: The most important thing is, they marry the women, then the women can go down and get the baby.
Margaret: The baby is in her stomach.
Dennis: She has to get it installed, her stomach just isn't filled up with babies.
Margaret: Who installs them?
Dennis: A minister and a doctor.
I tend to find most children in films to be quite obnoxious. I think it's because they're trying too hard to be actors, rather than just being kids at play. Here lies the brilliance of Dennis the Menace. Producer John Hughes made sure that his actors were normal kids, having a good time and playing with their friends. The kids were relaxed and clearly having a good time.
The biggest laugh in the entire movie is gotten my Matthau. Unaware that Dennis has knocked the front teeth out of his dentures and replaced them with Chicklets gum, when having his picture taken for the local paper, he gives a big happy smile:
What makes Dennis the Menace enjoyable is its sense of fun. It's not trying to impress, it doesn't take itself seriously, and it just has fun. It really is such a likable film that I have always enjoyed watching.
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