The Little Rascals (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Little Rascals


caption = Theatrical release poster
imdb_id = 0110366
writer = Paul Guay
Stephen Mazur
Penelope Spheeris
Robert Wolterstorff
starring = Travis Tedford Bug Hall Brittany Ashton Holmes
Blake McIver Ewing
Kevin Jamal Woods
Jordan Warkol
Zachary Mabry
Ross Bagley
Sam Saletta
Blake Jeremy Collins
director = Penelope Spheeris
music = William Ross
producer = Bill Oakes
Michael King
distributor = Universal Pictures
released = August 5, 1994 (USA)
runtime = 82 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget =

"The Little Rascals" is a 1994 comedy film produced by Amblin Entertainment, and released by Universal Pictures on August 5, 1994. The film is an adaptation of Hal Roach "Our Gang" short subjects of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s (later broadcast on television as "The Little Rascals"), which centered around the adventures of a group of neighborhood children. The film, with a screenplay by Paul Guay, Stephen Mazur, and Penelope Spheeris — who also directed — presents several of the "Our Gang" characters in an updated setting, and features re-interpretations of several of the original shorts. It's the first collaboration by Guay & Mazur, whose subsequent comedies were "Liar Liar" and "Heartbreakers".

Plot summary

Spanky is the president of the "He-Man Womun Haters Club" with many school-aged boys from around the neighborhood as members. His best friend, Alfalfa, has been chosen as the driver for the club's prize-winning go-kart, "The Blur", in the annual Soap Box Derby style race. However, when the announcement is made, Alfalfa is nowhere to be found.

The boys catch Alfalfa in the company of Darla -- "a girl!" The club's members try their hardest to break the two apart, eventually causing their beloved clubhouse to burn down. Darla is mistakenly led to believe Alfalfa feels ashamed of her, so she turns her attentions to Waldo, the new kid whose father is an oil tycoon. Spanky, Stymie and friends judge Alfalfa's punishment to be left guarding the go-kart day and night until the day of the race. Until that day comes, Alfalfa makes many attempts to woo back Darla including a visit to her ballet rehearsal, an undelivered love letter, and through serenade.

In order to rebuild their clubhouse, the boys try to fund-raise the cost of lumber. The littlest ones, Porky and Buckwheat, unknowingly come up with $500. Their school teacher finds out about the scheme, but Spanky convinces her to use the funds as prize money for the go-kart derby.

"The Blur" is stolen by local bullies Butch and Woim. In addition to having to rebuild the clubhouse, the boys now need a new set of wheels. They band together to build "Blur 2: The Sequel." Prior to race day, Spanky and Alfalfa reconcile and decide to ride in the two-seat go-kart together. They hope to win the prize money and the trophy, to be presented to the victors by the greatest racer of all, "A.J. Ferguson."

Butch and Woim make several sneaky attempts to stop Alfalfa and Spanky from winning the race. Waldo, who kicks out Darla from his race car, pulls a few tricks of his own. It's a wild race to the finish, but "Blur 2" crosses the finish line ahead of the pack, despite the many scrapes and crashes throughout the derby.

Along with first prize, Alfalfa also wins back Darla's heart after it turns out that Darla kicked Waldo out of the car, not the other way around. Spanky, meanwhile, is shocked at the trophy presentation when he finally meets his favorite driver, A.J. Ferguson -- "a girl!"

As soon as the club house is rebuilt, the boys collectively have a change of heart toward membership and welcome Darla and friends to their club, with "Women Welcome" added to the sign.

Cast

The Little Rascals

* Travis Tedford as Spanky - "He-Man Womun Hater's Club" president
* Bug Hall as Alfalfa - Spanky's best friend and Darla's boyfriend
* Kevin Jamal Woods as Stymie - club's vice-president
* Jordan Warkol as Froggy (voice dubbed by E.G. Daily)- club member with a croaking voice and a love for amphibians
* Zachary Mabry as Porky - club member, a toddler
* Ross Bagley as Buckwheat - club member, Porky's best friend
* Courtland Mead as Uh-huh - club "typographer", always answers "uh-huh"
* Petey - a neighborhood dog, possibly owned by Spanky
* Elmer - the pet monkey of a nameless club member

Adult characters

* Mel Brooks as Mr Welling - the bank teller
* Lea Thompson as Miss Roberts - Darla's ballet instructor
* Daryl Hannah as Miss Crabtree - the gang's school teacher
* Reba McEntire as A. J. Ferguson - "the best driver there is"
* Eric Edwards as Spanky's father
* Dan Carton as Alfalfa's father
* Whoopi Goldberg as Buckwheat's mother
* Ice-T as Buckwheat's Father
* Donald Trump as Waldo's father
* George Wendt as Lumber Store Guy

Borrowed gags and situations

* "Three Smart Guys" (1943): Porky and Buckwheat unknowingly reeling each other in while fishing
* "Anniversary Trouble" (1935): the gang and the "hi/high-sign"
* "Hearts are Thumps" (1937): the gang spiking Alfalfa & Darla's lunch
* "Hook and Ladder" (1932): the gang as firefighters
* "Teacher's Beau" (1935): Spanky and Stymie imitating adults by sitting on each other's shoulders to appear taller
* "Mail and Female" (1937): Porky and Buckwheat as messengers for Alfalfa's love letter
* "Rushin' Ballet" (1937): Alfalfa and Spanky in drag at a ballet recital
* "Hearts are Thumps" (1937): Alfalfa's "bubble song" (during the talent show)
* "Hi'-Neighbor!" (1932): building the go-kart (a fire engine in the original)
* "Auto Antics" (1939): the go-kart race
* "Hi'-Neighbor!" (1932) and "Divot Diggers" (1936): knocking over pedestrians in the go-kart

ee also

* "Our Gang"
* "The Little Rascals" (animated TV series)

External links

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