Genre: Comedy | family
(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
Loading ...
Release: Year 1994
The Little Rascals is the movie version of classic TV series with the same name. All those who grew up watching it in Black and White felt great about the idea of showing their own kids a big screen version of their childhood favorite. But it must be an uphill task to turn a show that was divided in short stories, into a full blown movie.
One must applaud Penelope Spheeris for his perseverance in dealing with the TV material. He has also worked The Beverly Hillbillies and the neoclassic Wayne’s World, previously.
The main perquisite of The Little Rascal was a slavish devotion to its original version. The filmmakers have done the casting so remarkably that they even resemble the actors of the actual TV series. The filmmakers have done a great job in making sure that the caste which primarily include 5 to 10 year olds, do a great job. Their hard work is visible in the outtakes which come in the closing credits. It provides some indication of how hard it must have been to work with the kids.
The plot of the movie is quite conventional plot. Love-smitten Alfalfa (played by Bug Hall) breaks the rules of “all-male He-Man Womun-Haters Club” by going after very feminine Darla (played by cute Brittany Ashton Holmes). This upsets his friend, Spanky (played by Travis Tedford) and their clubhouse ends up burning down.
They need $350 to rebuild the club and the group embarks on their effort to raise the money. They get a golden chance in a go-cart race. The new object of Darla’s affection who is a rich kid Waldo (played by Blake McIver Ewing) is also taking part in the race. Ewing bears uncanny resemblance to McCaughey Culkin).
The plot is so simple that it’s hard to believe that five writers wrote it. The filmmakers must have struggled to spread the material over one and a half hours. There are some very amusing moments but some scenes are rather arid stretches.
The real problem is that the movie doesn’t have a steady source of laughs. The best part of the movie is listening to the tiny actors deliver lines. At one point, Darla actually says, “You took the best years of my life.” But this novelty starts diminishing after sometime.
The director has also used the adult cameos very well. Donald Trump makes a cameo as the rich kid’s father and Whoopi Goldberg plays Buckwheat’s mom. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (from Full House) and Raven-Symone (from The Cosby Show) also appear in a small role. But, The Little Rascals is primarily a kids’ show and they play their part reasonably well.
Holmes is a real scene-stealer as Darla and Kevin Jamal Woods who plays as Stymie is probably the most natural actor in the movie.
William Ross has weaved an original score around a recognizable Little Rascals theme, while the song score includes Short People by Randy Newman.
Processing your request, Please wait....
