Wait. Let’s be real for a second. When people talk about the "Rascal" movies, they almost always mean the 1994 Penelope Spheeris classic. But there’s this weirdly charming 2014 direct-to-video flick that a lot of folks actually grew up with instead. If you've been scrolling through Netflix or found an old DVD under the couch, you’re probably looking at the Little Rascals Save the Day cast and wondering who these kids actually were and if any of them turned into superstars.
It was a bold move. Remaking a remake of a 1920s short film series? Risky. But Universal 1440 Entertainment went for it. They found a group of kids who looked eerily like the original 1930s "Our Gang" members.
Jet Jurgensmeyer played Spanky. Drew Justice was Alfalfa. These weren't just random kids off the street, though. Most of them were seasoned pros by the time they hit the set. Honestly, looking back at the 2014 cast list feels like looking at a "Who’s Who" of child actors from the mid-2010s who were basically everywhere for a few years.
Meet the Crew: The Core Little Rascals Save the Day Cast
Jet Jurgensmeyer was the glue. As Spanky, he had to carry a lot of the comedic weight. It’s funny because Jet is arguably the most successful person to come out of that specific production. Since playing the leader of the He-Man Woman Haters Club, he’s been in everything. He was in Last Man Standing as Boyd Baxter and did a ton of voice work for Disney. If you’ve got kids, you’ve probably heard him as Dudley in T.O.T.S. or Pip the Penguin.
Then there’s Drew Justice. He had the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of Alfalfa. The hair, the singing, the "dear Darla" of it all. Drew sort of stepped away from the spotlight more than Jet did, but he was a mainstay in the commercial world and had a decent run on the series Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street.
The rest of the gang was rounded out by some pretty distinct faces:
- Eden Wood as Darla. Yeah, that Eden Wood. The Toddlers & Tiaras breakout star. This was her big attempt at transitioning from the pageant world into scripted acting. It was a meta-casting choice if there ever was one.
- Camden Gray as Porky. He was the tiny one. The one who always had the "Oh, tay!" catchphrase.
- Trace Masters as Buckwheat. * Grant Palmer as Waldo. Every story needs a rich-kid antagonist, and Grant played the smug Waldo perfectly before going on to voice Lincoln Loud in The Loud House.
The Adult Cameos You Probably Forgot
The Little Rascals Save the Day cast wasn't just kids. They crammed in some "wait, I know them!" adult cameos to keep the parents from falling asleep. Doris Roberts—everyone’s favorite grandma from Everybody Loves Raymond—played Grandma. It was actually one of her last roles before she passed away in 2016. Seeing her interact with the kids gives the movie a warmth that it probably wouldn't have had otherwise.
👉 See also: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
Greg Germann played the villain, Ray "Big Ray" Kaye. You might know him from Ally McBeal or his more recent stint on Grey’s Anatomy. He played the over-the-top corporate jerk role to a T. Oh, and Lex Medlin? He played the police officer. Even the legendary Valerie Azlynn popped up as Miss Crabtree.
Why This Specific Cast Worked (Even If You Preferred the 1994 Version)
Look, nostalgia is a hell of a drug. People who grew up in the 90s will fight you in the streets if you say the 2014 version is better. But strictly speaking, the 2014 cast was actually closer in "vibe" to the original 1920s shorts. They were grittier. Well, as gritty as a PG-rated movie about a lemonade stand can get.
The chemistry was genuine. Director Alex Zamm, who is basically the king of direct-to-video sequels (Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2, anyone?), has a knack for getting performances out of kids that don't feel entirely scripted. There's a lot of ad-libbing in the background. If you watch closely during the bakery scenes or the talent show rehearsals, the kids are actually messing around. It feels less like a polished Hollywood production and more like a high-budget home movie.
One major difference in this cast was the inclusion of Eden Wood. Casting a pageant queen as Darla was a gamble. Some critics hated it, saying it felt too "produced," but for the target demographic of 7-year-olds in 2014, she was a massive draw. She brought a specific kind of sass to Darla that was different from Brittany Ashton Holmes’ sweet portrayal in the 90s.
The Weird Career Arc of Child Actors
It's a tough business. Most of the kids in the Little Rascals Save the Day cast didn't stay in the industry for the long haul. That’s just the reality of being a child star. You do a movie, you hit puberty, and suddenly the roles dry up or you realize you’d rather just go to a normal high school and play football.
Jet Jurgensmeyer is the outlier. He’s transitioned into a country music career while maintaining a steady stream of acting gigs. It’s rare. Most of the other kids, like Trace Masters or Camden Gray, have very little public presence now. They've moved on to "real" lives.
✨ Don't miss: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. The history of the original Our Gang is famously tragic. There’s that whole "Little Rascals Curse" urban legend because so many of the original 1920s actors had difficult adult lives. Thankfully, the 2014 cast seems to have avoided all that drama. They did their movie, had some fun, and most of them just... grew up.
Behind the Scenes: Making the Movie
They filmed the whole thing in Los Angeles, trying to recreate a timeless version of "Green Oaks." It’s a weird setting. It’s clearly modern—there are computers and cell phones—but the kids still dress like it’s 1935. The cast had to go through "Rascal Training." Basically, they spent weeks watching the old black-and-white shorts to learn the mannerisms.
Drew Justice allegedly practiced his "Alfalfa wig wiggle" for hours. Jet had to learn how to lead a group of kids who were all roughly the same age as him. Imagine being nine years old and having to be the "boss" on a movie set.
The Legacy of the 2014 Reboot
Does it stand the test of time? Probably not as well as the 1994 film. But for a specific generation, this is their Little Rascals. When they think of the Little Rascals Save the Day cast, they don't think of Bug Hall; they think of Drew Justice.
The movie was essentially a series of vignettes tied together by the plot of saving Grandma’s bakery. Because of that structure, the actors got to show off a lot of range. They did physical comedy, musical numbers, and "emotional" scenes (well, as emotional as you can get over a debt-ridden cupcake shop).
If you're looking to revisit the film, it's worth it just to see the early work of some talented kids.
🔗 Read more: Isaiah Washington Movies and Shows: Why the Star Still Matters
What you should do next if you're a fan:
Check out the social media accounts of Jet Jurgensmeyer to see his music—it's actually pretty good if you're into the Nashville sound. If you’re a parent, the movie is still a safe bet for a movie night because it avoids the mean-spirited humor found in a lot of modern kids' films.
Lastly, if you've only ever seen this version, do yourself a favor and go back to the source. Watch the 1930s shorts like The First Round-Up or Mush and Milk. You’ll see exactly where the 2014 cast got their inspiration. The DNA of those original performances is all over the 2014 reboot, from the way Spanky scratches his head to the specific way Alfalfa’s voice cracks when he hits a high note.
The 2014 cast did a thankless job. They stepped into iconic shoes and managed to not trip. That’s a win in Hollywood.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of the Movie:
- Follow the careers: Jet Jurgensmeyer is the one to watch for new music and voice acting.
- Context matters: Watch the 1994 movie and the 1930s shorts to compare the three different "eras" of Rascals.
- Casting insights: This movie serves as a great example of how to cast for "types"—the producers prioritized physical resemblance to the original characters over big-name recognition.
- Where to watch: The film frequently rotates through streaming services like Netflix, Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video. It's also widely available on digital storefronts if you want to own the digital copy for your kids.
The story of the Little Rascals is one of the longest-running legacies in American entertainment. Whether it's the 1920s or the 2010s, the idea of kids just being kids—messy, loud, and fiercely loyal—never really goes out of style. The 2014 cast was just the latest group to carry that torch, and honestly, they did a pretty decent job of it.