A Dennis the Menace Christmas

It's the misadventures of six year old Dennis "the Menace" Mitchell. He accidentally releases the turkey during a school pageant and mayhem ensues. George (Robert Wagner) and Martha Wilson (Louise Fletcher) try to escape but George gets caught in the pie crossfire. Class bully Jack's dad David Bratcher sold the insurance policy to the school but there is a Dennis clause. They don't pay if the incident is caused by Dennis. Jack challenges Dennis to a bike race but Dennis needs a new bike. Meanwhile, a black man in a white suit falls out of the sky. When the Mitchells run out of babysitters, Dennis is left with the Wilsons.

This is a straight to video sequel for the franchise. This looks cheap and Wagner does not fit the role at all. Then, it turns into A Christmas Carol which only defeats the character of Mr. Wilson even more. It starts out well with Dennis starting that school chaos but the movie stumbles around for the rest of it.

This movie is a bad replica of Dennis the Menace (1993). Same story only 14 years later with different actors, but this is it.

You shouldn't watch this, your children shouldn't watch this,prisoners at Gitmo shouldn't watch this. Only those who produced this abomination should be forced to view their mistake over and over again. I wish I could give it a zero. The # 1 problem with the plot is a total lack of child supervision. This observation came from my daughter not me though I totally concur. It was totally devoid of humor, the characters were two-dimensional at best and Joseph Kerns from the grave could have put more life into Mr. Wilson than Robert Wagner did. Can't anyone make a Christmas story for kids anymore? And please hire kids that can act like natural kids instead of just being cute.

Dennis is inspired by a classroom lecture about Christmas celebrations, and goes on a reckless rampage of "well-intentioned" destruction. Don't expect the exuberant Dennis who touches adult hearts with his ingenuous spirit. Expect a misguided kid whose ill-conceived crusade involves trespassing, persistent obsession, vandalism, and ignoring warnings. Aimed at three year old kids with a slapstick approach, the violent accidents are supposed to be funny and cute. They're neither.

Dennis's parents do nothing, as the kid marks a "checkoff" list of good deeds to "help" Wilson. One fiasco after another. Damage, destruction, injury. Then he tries another item on the list. Damage, destruction, injury. Then another. Damage, destruction, injury. And on and on. No jury in the world would convict Wilson if he bought some pit bull attack dogs to devour this little psycho next time he sneaks on to the property. And then blow up the Mitchells' house. Anyhow, the story then throws in a weakly contrived "Christmas Carol" sequence in for a moral tag. In spite of a hopeless script, the cast all do a pretty decent acting job. You may not notice the actors by this time though; you'll be too busy rolling your eyes.

Uses the Dennis moniker, but it's really a thinly disguised cheap rip off of Home Alone.

He's back! Dennis the Menace Mitchell (Maxwell Perry Cotton) is about to put on a show, with his school class' Thanksgiving play. In the audience are his adoring parents, Henry (George Newburn) and Alice (Kim Schraner) as well as grouchy neighbor, George Wilson (Robert Wagner) and his long-suffering wife Martha (Louise Fletcher). But, naturally, the play doesn't go off as planned. Dennis lets the live turkey out early, for a drink of water, and the play's gal-star is allergic to feathers and starts screaming. Soon all heck breaks loose and the stage is in tatters. But, for the Mitchells, it goes from bad to worse, as they discover the school has a "Dennis clause" in its insurance plan and Henry and Alice will have to pay for the damage their son caused. Wow. Off Alice goes to a mall job as a gift wrapper, for the family needs more income to pay bills. But, having to take Dennis with her, it is not long until more havoc and damage is done. So, to keep her job, Alice arranges for Martha and George to babysit Dennis, much to the older man's chagrin. Naturally, Martha has to run to the supermarket and George naps, only to find Dennis has messed with his prized stamp collection. Uh oh. George is pretty hot and Dennis decides that his older neighbor needs the "Xmas spirit", a list his teacher compiled to make the holidays more enjoyable. This involves looking for gifts for Martha, making cookies and putting up a tree. But, at every turn, things go wrong and the Mitchells have so many bills, they fear they may to have to sell the house AND can not give Dennis the prized bicycle he covets for Christmas. But, can Mr. Wilson have a change of heart, especially after a visit from a Christmas angel? All right, this film may not be perfect but, I still found it good holiday entertainment, made for those kiddies who need help to pass the time until the big holiday arrives. Wagner, long a leading man hearthrob, is very nice as the grouchy Wilson, with Fletcher complimenting him well as his kinder wife. Cotton is as adorable as they come, although perhaps more innocent than mischievous. Newburn is one very handsome, kind father figure, hope he pops up in more films soon, and Schraner is also lovely in her understanding-mother role. The film, most likely on a lower budget, has nice sets, costumes, and camera work while the storyline, which is a heavy borrower from other flicks, is certainly lively enough to please most everyone. All in all, if you are looking for a good holiday film for your loved ones, this is one to consider.