This kid was seriously the most annoying and horrible character ever commited to celluloid. Jodie Foster, whom I thought was a boy first, was so much cooler compared to this thing. I doubt there is any other character who matches his evil. Is there?
I was glad when David spanked him too, because he was being very disrespectful to him and David had been very kind to him. But I felt sorry for the kid because he had to sit in a damn hotel room all the time waiting for his mom to come home. He lost his father and stability, even if the guy was a jerk and now his mom is acting kind of flighty. After her ill-fated romance with Keitel, he has to worry about her. He's supposed to be a kid, but keeps getting forced into situations that scare him. He acts out by being obnoxious. By the way, he got his mouth from her.
I think Shirley Temple ranks up there with annoying brats. I didn't find her cute and sparkling. I just wanted to smack those fat cheeks and slam her head into a toilette! SWIRLY TIME, SHIRLEY!!! Just kidding, but she is annoying.
I was never much for Arlis in Old Yeller or his other role as the brat in Swiss Family Robinson. I know his character was built that way by the Disney folks, so I do not blame the actor (Kevin something). Good ol Moochie.
Tommy was bad all right, but the most annoying child in all of film history was Ruthie in Two for the Road from 1967. I literally cannot watch that film and will run from the room if anyone else insists on watching it, but no annoying kid movie marathon is complete without it! If you agree with making Tommy walk home, you would have put Ruthie out on the road and run her over!