Problem Child (1990)

Problem Child poster

Universal Pictures
Starring: John Ritter, Amy Yasbeck, Michael Oliver
Directed by: Dennis Dugan

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Junior (Michael Oliver) is an abandoned boy who is so outrageously bad he can’t find anyone to adopt him permanently. Enter a couple who desperately want children but have no idea who they’re up against.

Featured Feline: Animal rights people were up in arms over the poster for this movie which depicts Junior sitting on top of a dryer with a cat trapped inside. No such scene appears in the film itself, although the family cat, Fuzzball, does run afoul of Junior’s rambunctousness. Fuzzball is first seen with Flo (Amy Yasbeck) as she talks to her husband Ben (John Ritter) about never being invited to any of their neighbors’ parties.

Problem Child - Flo Amy Yasbeck holding tabby cat Fuzzball with Ben John Ritter

Flo holds and pets Fuzzball through this scene.

Problem Child - Flo Amy Yasbeck holding tabby cat Fuzzball beside Ben John Ritter

Kitty Carnage Warning: At the end of the scene, Ben convinces Flo that if they had a kid they would be invited to the parties. Since they can’t have any of their own, he suggests they should adopt. Flo literally tosses Fuzzball aside, although the cat lands on the couch on his feet and the cat’s meow is dubbed. (And people were worried about how Junior was going to treat the cat!)

Problem Child - Flo Amy Yasbeck throwing tabby cat Fuzzball across couch

When Junior arrives on the scene, Fuzzball is immediately leery of the boy.

Problem Child - tabby cat Fuzzball hissing

Junior tries to pick up Fuzzball and pet him but is being too rough and Fuzzball runs off.

Problem Child - Junior Michael Oliver with Flo Amy Yasbeck and tabby cat Fuzzball

Later after Junior has set fire to his room and made a bad impression on Ben’s dad, Big Ben (Jack Warden), he walks over and very roughly grabs Fuzzball.

Problem Child - Junior Michael Oliver roughly grabbing tabby cat Fuzzball

Kitty Carnage Warning: Junior tosses Fuzzball at his grandfather, knocking him down and sending them both flying down the stairs. The cat used in this scene is obviously fake except in the close ups.

Problem Child - Big Ben Jack Warden with fake tabby cat Fuzzball flying at him and Amy Yasbeck and John Ritter

Problem Child - Big Ben Jack Warden holding up tabby cat Fuzzball

As Big Ben is taken away in an ambulance, Fuzzball is seen hobbling across the front lawn with his front legs bandaged, making him walk strangely. Reportedly veterinarian splints were put on the cat but cut to give the cat actor more freedom and flexibility.

Problem Child - tabby cat Fuzzball walking with front leg splints

Kitty Cameos: A couple of other cats also appear in the movie. At the beginning of the film as Junior is being passed from household to household he ends up in one with an orange tabby cat named Puffy who is also nervous about the boy.

Problem Child - orange tabby cat hissing

Problem Child - orange tabby cat closer

Junior pours some soap flakes in the Puffy’s dish. Puffy eats the soap flakes out of its bowl.

Problem Child - orange tabby cat hissing

Then the cat is seen blowing out bubbles from its mouth, although this is obviously a special effect.

Problem Child - orange tabby cat spitting soap bubbles animated gif

Another cat appears for just a moment when their neighbor Roy (Peter Jurasik) is packing the car for their camping trip. This cat can be seen in omitted footage restored to the television airings of the film.

Problem Child - black cat in driveway with Roy Peter Jurasik