This black comedy is the first work of producer Robert Simonds, and it’s honestly surprising he kept producing other films after making this horrible one. But he did, and he may have improved a little bit as his experience grew. “Problem Child” features Michael Oliver, John Ritter, Gilbert Gottfried, and more actors who would probably love to forget they have ever sign on to this cinematic flop.
Rotten Tomatoes calls the film an “unpleasant comedy.” Sounds cringy and not at all inviting. It tells the story of a seven-year-old misbehaving orphan boy who gets adopted by a loving couple. They suffer the wrath of the boy for a while until he gets kidnapped and they go to rescue him. Sounds bad? That’s because it is.
R.I.P.D.
Let’s clear up the frustrated ignorance right away. It stands for Rest in Peace Department, and it comes from the comic book series of the same acronym. The cast includes Jeff Bridges, Ryan Reynolds, and Kevin Bacon, and still, it failed commercially and critically. Jeff Bridges and others of the cast were commended for more than decent portrayals of already dead characters, but little other grace was found.
One critic from Time magazine wondered if it was “Too Awful to Review.” The massive production budget cost Universal $130 - $154 million, leaving box office cumulative sales infinitesimally dwarfed at $78.3 million. And, finally, the total loss was also massive: $96 - $121 million. Whatever you do, please don't see it.
The Adventures of Pluto Nash
As it turns out, sci-fi comedy "Pluto Nash" is an infamous wipeout, crashing and burning at epic proportions. It made Time magazine’s list of the “10 biggest money-losers of all time,” placing 3rd. It’s so bad, Eddie Murphy says watching it makes him break down and cry. The story takes place in the 2080s, on the moon, where all Earth exiles are sent.
Pluto Nash (Murphy) is assaulted by lunar gangsta thugs, forcing him to defend his nightclub and the rights of all of moonkind. Nothing in the world can save this epic flop from its notoriety. It grossed merely $7.1 million at the “flop” office and it cost Warner Bros $100 million to make. That leaves the endeavor at a 95% net loss!
Folks!
Tom Selleck stars in this film as Jon Aldrich, a stockbroker who has it all. His life is perfect until his parents move in with him. Sounds like the start of a nice family comedy, but this is hardly the case here. Critics say that this film gives the elderly some really bad rep and that it tries to be both vicious and tender at the same time.
Nobody's perfect. Not even Tom Selleck. How else would you explain him starring in the worst movie in his career? While he is known to mostly play lovable characters which win over the viewers, this time was different. This time his performance even got him a golden raspberry nomination for Worst Actor.
A Low Down Dirty Shame
Action comedies are usually a pretty successful genre. People will normally be happy with a movie as long as it makes them laugh and has a scene or two of car chases or gunfights. While the lead actor, Keenen Ivory Wayans can be funny, he's certainly no action hero. Apparently, those weren't enough to save "A Low Down Dirty Shame."
The story here is that of Andre Shame, a retired cop who turned into a private investigator and trying to solve a narcotics-related mystery. There is, of course, a romantic subplot, featuring Jada Pinkett, but even that wasn't enough to save the movie from itself and the controversial blaxploitation it displays.