Calling all members of the He-Man Woman Haters Club!
It's been 26 years since director Penelope Spheeris collected the cutest group of child stars the '90s has ever seen for The Little Rascals, her big-screen adaptation of the classic Our Gang short films from the 1920s, '30s and '40s, centered on the adventures of a group of rambunctious neighborhood kids. And in doing so, she introduced a whole new generation to Spanky McFarland, his lovesick best friend Alfalfa Switzer, the object of his affection, Darla, and all the rest.
While critics didn't exactly love the film when it was released on August 5, 1994, leaving it with just a 23 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews, it was a favorite for a generation of young moviegoers who most likely still sing to themselves "I've got a pickle, I've got a pickle, I've got a pickle, hey hey hey hey" every time they see one of the green vegetables.
In the 26 years since the film debuted, its child stars have, of course, grown up, with many of them stepping out of the spotlight. What better way, we thought, to celebrate the movie's big anniversary than by looking up what each of the young actors is up to now. And thankfully, the folks at Los Angeles-based production company 22 Vision helped us out by gathering much of the cast for a reunion photo shoot. Believe us when we tell you, these rascals aren't so little anymore.
The Little Rascals is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
(Originally published on August 5, 2019 at 10 a.m. PST.)