Young Mason Gamble (who won the title role over 20,000 hopefuls) is all-boy, all-menace, all-Dennis, right down to his slingshot and dog Ruff. As long-suffering neighbor George Wilson, Walter Matthau is a marvel of lovable grumpiness. And hristopher Lloyd (Back To the Future) adds a new wrinkle to Dennis's neighborhood as a grungy lowlife who's no match for a certain 5-year-old. "Hey, Mr. Wilson!"-and everyone else: "Dennis the Menace is an irresistible treat" (Bill Diehl, ABC Radio Network).
 
"...a sweet-naturedly nutty motion picture..."  Rita Kempley, Washington Post
"It captures the Home Alone magic."  Susan Granger, CRN & American Movie Classics
 


Editor's Note

John Hughes brings this lavish production to the big screen. The all-star cast is first rate (Dennis was chosen from over 20,000 child actors), bringing the neighborhood characters to life, from Mr. and Mrs. Wilson to Margaret and Joey and Dennis's benevolent parents, Henry and Alice.


Plot Summary

Based on Hank Ketcham's comic strip and the TV series. Dennis Mitchell is no menace to society. He's just a young boy whose mischievous ways constantly land him in hot water. Specifically, Dennis loves to play practical jokes on the crusty, ever-fuming Mr. Wilson (such as adding bathroom cleanser to the curmudgeon's mouthwash). Trouble arrives, however, in the form of a shady stranger named Switchblade Sam, who kidnaps the towheaded lad. But when Dennis's prankish nature is unleashed upon Switchblade Sam, the wily boy isn't a captive for very long...