Netflix Self-Torture Experiment Trilogy #40: Dennis the Menace Strikes Again

I think this choice speaks for itself…

Synopsis from Netflix: It’s all just for big belly laughs when lovable troublemaker Dennis the Menace (Justin Cooper) returns to torment the beleaguered Mr. Wilson (Don Rickles) — and ends up saving Wilson from a couple of con artists who are up to no good. George Kennedy, Brian Doyle-Murray, Betty White and Carrot Top co-star. Charles T. Kanganis directs this fun-filled, direct-to-video sequel based on the classic television sitcom.

My thoughts: I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This type of movie is supposed to set me off on a rant about annoying kids’ movies and the idiocy of making a one-panel cartoon strip in to a 75-minute feature, and yet somehow I didn’t hate it. Maybe I’m just in a good mood but I don’t feel like this film was self-torture to sit through.

The more I think about it, the less sense it makes. Dennis the Menace Strikes Again was filled with a myriad of things that annoy me:

  • Predictable “pranks” gone wrong which result in the constant annoyance of Mr. Wilson (and even Dennis’ own grandfather eventually).
  • Gender stereotyping which ranged from young Margaret’s non-stop attempts at making Dennis fall in love with her to Mrs. Wilson’s repeated relegation to the kitchen.
  • A cheesy ending where everyone agrees that Dennis is just a kid who means well,  right before he immediately goes back to being a pain in the ass.
  • Carrot Top.

Despite all of that, I simply wasn’t overly upset with the movie. Granted, I was disappointed that Don Rickles never went on a profanity-laced tirade and that Betty White didn’t get to assert her unique brand of humor, but I guess I never truly expected either to happen in a film geared towards families. Beats me, everybody. I think I’m starting to get soft or something. At least until I watch another movie where animals play sports against people. [Two out of five stars.]