Of all the archetypes, cliches, and tropes of 90s kids films, the bumbling villain is by far my favorite. Because of the stupid complaints of overprotective parents and silly religious groups, the studios had to find a way to make the evil characters in films less scary and more family-friendly. This was where the bumbling villain comes in. Although their motives are always the kidnapping, harm, or destruction of the main hero in the story, they never come off as threatening. Their unending ineptitude lets them constantly get outsmarted, outwitted, and outplayed. They are often being hit in the face or crotch and having to answer to their superiors for their inadequacy.
Out of respect for all of their hard work and gratitude for their hilarious antics, I decided to make a list of five of my favorite bumbling villains, for your reading pleasure.
Edgar “Eddie” Mauser, Norbert “Norby” LeBlaw and Victor “Veeko” Riley are the three moronic would-be kidnappers who disguise themselves as newspaper photographers in order to abduct the titular character of Baby’s Day Out, Baby Bink Crotwell, but their klutzy nature makes their criminal plans a bit difficult to carry out. Getting hit in the crotch, falling off of buildings, and being accosted by a gorilla is all in a day’s work for these three dimwitted dudes.
