History YMMV / ProblemChild

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: In ''Problem Child 3'', are Duke, Corky, and Blade genuily in love with Tiffany, like Junior? Or does she simply feel their ego? The way that when they are introduced they all seem to approach her together and almost as if they are willing to "share" her. And they quickly humiliate Junior who is genuily in love with her. Lates, they all go on dates with her separately, and none of them seems bothered by it. Even when Junior asks Duke if he likes Tiffany, Duke answers "She's alright". All that implies that unlike Junior, the yheee bullies aren't really in love with her, and simply want her to like them so they could continue feeding their ego.

** ''Problem Child 2'' is the rare PG-13 rated sequel to a PG-rated family film. It earns that rating with additional profanity and darker, more mean-spirited humor. When the film was first submitted to the MPAA, ''it received an'' '''''R''''' ''rating''. In a frantic case of ExecutiveMeddling, Universal cut the film down hoping to get the rating lowered to PG. It came back PG-13, in a desperate hurry, Universal went through their archives and selected a random 1940s WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker cartoon to accompany the film theatrically hoping to give the vibe that ''Problem Child 2'' was in fact a family film.

** ''Problem Child 2'' is the rare PG-13 rated sequel to a PG-rated family film. It earns that rating with additional profanity and darker, more mean-spirited humor. When the film was first submitted to the MPAA, it received an R rating. In a frantic case of ExecutiveMeddling, Universal cut the film down hoping to get the rating lowered to PG. It came back PG-13, in a desperate hurry, Universal went through their archives and selected a random 1940s WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker cartoon to accompany the film theatrically hoping to give the vibe that ''Problem Child 2'' was in fact a family film.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: In ''Problem Child 3'', are Duke, Corky, and Blade genuily in love with Tiffany, like Junior? Or does she simply feel their ego? The way that when they are introduced they all seem to approach her together and almost as if they are willing to “share” her. And they quickly humiliate Junior who is genuily in love with her. Lates, they all go on dates with her separately, and none of them seems bothered by it. Even when Junior asks Duke if he likes Tiffany, Duke answer “She’s alright”. All that implies that unlike Junior, the yheee bullies aren’t really in love with her, and simply want her to like them so they could continue feeding their ego.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The Crazy Dance scene in ''Problem Child 2''. The scene doesn't serve any real purpose beyond NauseaFuel and the FridgeHorror repercussions of the scene are ''huge''. But after it happens, it's never brought up again.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: In ''Problem Child 3'', are Duke, Corky, and Blade genuily in love with Tiffany, like Junior? Or does she simply feel their ego? The way that when they are introduced they all seem to approach her together and almost as if they are willing to “share” her. And they quickly humiliate Junior who is genuily in love with her. Lates, they all go on dates with her separately, and none of them seems bothered by it. Even when Junior asks Duke if he likes Tiffany, Duke answer “She’s alright”. All that implies that unlike Junior, the yheee bullies aren’t really in love with her, and simply want her to like them so they could continue feeding their ego.

** The cockroach dinner scene, especially given how ''huge and plentiful'' they were, but after Ben scolds Junior about his behavior and leaves, we see that the [[spoiler: back of his blazer is covered in ''[[{{Squick}} dead roaches.]]]]''

* WTHCastingAgency: Creator/MichaelRichards as a killer so intimidating that all the other prisoners fear him. Yes, ''Michael Richards'', of [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Kramer]] fame.

** The message of the first two films seems to be "if different people have problems, they should sit down and talk their problems out rather than sniping at one another." On one hand, the people around Junior are often unpleasant jerks who seem to ''want'' to make him miserable. On the other hand, the often-violent revenge he takes doesn't actually solve anything and makes him even more hated. The only person who Junior tries to be nice to is Ben, and that's because Ben is the only person who ''tries'' to understand Junior's point of view. If Junior and his victims could learn to be nice, there would be less conflict.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: In ''Problem Child 3'', are Duke, Corky, and Blade genuily in love with Tiffany, like Junior? Or does she simply feel their ego? The way that when they are introduced they all seem to approach her together and almost as if they are willing to “share” her. And they quickly humiliate Junior who is genuily in love with her. Lates, they all go on dates with her separately, and none of them seems bothered by it. Even when Junior asks Duke if he likes Tiffany, Duke answer “She’s alright.” All that implies that unlike Junior, the yheee bullies aren’t really in love with her, and simply want her to like them so they could continue feeding their ego.

* RootingForTheEmpire: It's easy to feel sorry for Junior during the baseball game when the entire opposing team is maliciously chanting "son of dork" at him all while [[AdultsAreUseless their coach does nothing]] and even maliciously grins at their behavior. It's also easy to feel [[KickTheSonOfABitch that they got what they deserved afterwards]] when Junior beats them up with a baseball bat. In fact, this is often a common thread through the films - the people around Junior and Ben are often so shallow, abrasive, or both, that it becomes more cathartic when Junior gives them his usual treatment. The problem is poor Ben inadvertently suffers as a result of Junior's revenge fantasies.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: In Problem Child 3’’, are Duke, Corky, and Blade genuily in love with Tiffany, like Junior? Or does she simply feel their ego? The way that when they are introduced they all seem to approach her together and almost as if they are willing to “share” her. And they quickly humiliate Junior who is genuily in love with her. Lates, they all go on dates with her separately, and none of them seems bothered by it. Even when Junior asks Duke if he likes Tiffany, Duke answer “She’s alright.” All that implies that unlike Junior, the yheee bullies aren’t really in love with her, and simply want her to like them so they could continue feeding their ego.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The end title song "Problem Child." Bonus awesome points for being performed by Music/TheBeachBoys. [[http://youtu.be/9EeSuuCwaQ4 Here's the rare music video for it.]]

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The movie is set at the start of the 90s and it shows.

* WTHCastingAgency: Creator/MichaelRichards as a killer so intimidating that all the other prisoners fear him. Yes, ''Michael Richards,'' of [[Series/{{Seinfeld}} Kramer]] fame.

* TheWoobie: Ben has a rough life. He's such a NiceGuy that he borders on ExtremeDoormat and barely anyone takes him seriously. His wife cared more about image and social status than actually raising a family, and she wound up fooling around on him with an escaped convict. And then there's his {{Jerkass}} [[AbusiveParents dad who treats him like garbage]]. And when Ben finally gets to be a father, his best intentions are met with the walking disaster that is Junior (himself a JerkassWoobie, as mentioned above).

* UnacceptableTargets: One version of the poster depicted a cat in a tumble dryer, with the implication that Junior had placed it there, prompting complaints from animal welfare organizations. Said organizations also objected to a scene where Junior breaks a cat's leg.

** Extreme violence is bad, but sometimes you do have to stand up for yourself. Ben's life only improves when he stands up to his toxic wife, toxic father, and toxic neighbors.

** Extreme violence is bad, but sometimes you do have to stand up for yourself. Ben's life only improves when stands up to his toxic wife, toxic father, and toxic neighbors.

* InformedWrongness: Both Junior and his victims have reasons for hating one another. But while Junior is called out for his behavior, nobody calls out his aggressors for their behavior and treats Junior's attacks as totally one-sided.
* JerkassWoobie: Junior. It's something of a "chicken or egg" issue, as he's been neglected and abused his entire life, but was also shown to be a bad-ass little brat even since infancy. However, some people are shown hating him even ''before'' they are aware of his bad side, which may somewhat vindicate his attitude.

** While a lot of people needlessly antagonize Junior, his violent reactions to the abuse go well beyond anything sane or rational. The stunt with the car could've easily gotten someone ''killed''.
** In turn, while Junior might deserve the punishments he gets, almost every adult figure in his life straight up ''abandons'' him without even trying to talk him down, discipline him, or try and explain to him why his actions are bad.

** The moments where Ben seems to want to give up on Junior are also quite soul-crushing.