Jordan Burton Movies
- 1990
- PG
An adoptive parent discovers that some children are given up by their biological parents for very good reasons in this dark comedy. Ben Healy (John Ritter) is a pleasant but brow-beaten yuppie working for his father Big Ben (Jack Warden), a tyrannical sporting goods dealer. Ben would love to have a son, but his wife Flo (Amy Yasbeck) has been unable to conceive. Ben approaches less-than-scrupulous adoption agent Igor Peabody (Gilbert Gottfried) with his dilemma, and Igor presents Ben and Flo with a cute seven-year-old boy, Junior (Michael Oliver). However, Junior is hardly a model child; mean-spirited and incorrigible, the child leaves a path of serious destruction in his wake, and is even pen pals with Martin Beck (Michael Richards), a notorious serial killer. After the cat ends up in the hospital, the house catches on fire, and Junior displays his effective but unethical method for winning in Little League, Ben is having serious doubts about Junior when Beck escapes from jail and decides to kidnap his faithful correspondent, along with Junior's new mom. Problem Child proved to be a major box office success, spawning two sequels and a TV series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Ritter, Michael Oliver, (more)
Dakota (Lou Diamond Phillips) is a troubled teen on the run. He takes a job on a Texas ranch to work off his debts. While Dakota works on restoring an antique car and other chores, he becomes a surrogate big brother for Casey (Jordan Burton), the young rancher's son who lost a leg to bone cancer. He also starts to fall for the rancher's pretty daughter Molly (Dee Dee Norton). Eli Cummins plays Walt Lechner, the kindly rancher who not only gave Dakota a job but a home with a loving family. Dakota weighs his past against his future in this family drama with a moral message. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lou Diamond Phillips, Eli Cummins, (more)
