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On the surface, babysitting seems like the "golden gig". Make sure kids go to sleep early and then have a house all for yourself to watch TV, eat popcorn, and do nothing. But then again, if we take 80s and 90s films as evidence, it's anything but. That's what Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) finds out in this comedy/adventure classic when she sings about ♪ the "babysitting blues" ♫
Adventures in Babysitting follows Chris as she decides to take a babysitting gig to keep her mind occupied after her boyfriend cancels their anniversary dinner. The subjects of their care are siblings Sarah and Brad (Maia Brewton and Keith Coogan), but Brad's obnoxious best friend Daryl (Anthony Rapp) also inserts himself in the equation. But things go awry when Chris' best friend Brenda calls her for help from Downtown Chicago after she ran away from her home.
As is expected, the problems and crazy situations just pile on top of the other; from something as mundane as a flat tire or forgetting a purse to something as chaotic as finding themselves in the middle of a stolen car operation or in the middle of a gang fight in the subway. That's why she has ♫ the babysitting blues ♪
This is one of those films that I remember seeing often when I was a kid/pre-teen, but that for some reason, I hadn't revisited in probably 20 years or more. Turns out it held up extremely well. In his directorial debut, Chris Columbus takes a very whimsical approach to the situations, similar to what he would do later in Home Alone. It doesn't matter the kids are being chased by criminals or that they're hanging from building ledges, it's all handled with a fun and adventurous tone.
Shue is both charming and commanding as the lead, and the three kids play well off of her and each other. George Newbern, who plays a sporadic love interest for Shue might feel like an unnecessary addition, but he sells the role well. Vincent D'Onofrio also has a memorable supporting role that always stuck in my mind, as he helps the gang go away and out of ♪ the babysitting blues ♫
Last month I was talking on my podcast about "suburban magical realism", as in films that deal with fantastical or absurd situations in a realistic suburban setting, and this is a perfect example of that. I love how it straddles that fine line between what's real and what's silly and/or absurd. It's all fun and adventurous, even when you feel ♫ the babysitting blues ♪ (Baby, baby!)
Grade:
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING
(1987, Columbus)
Freebie
(1987, Columbus)
Freebie
"I got enough watching these guys. I've got the babysitting blues."
On the surface, babysitting seems like the "golden gig". Make sure kids go to sleep early and then have a house all for yourself to watch TV, eat popcorn, and do nothing. But then again, if we take 80s and 90s films as evidence, it's anything but. That's what Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) finds out in this comedy/adventure classic when she sings about ♪ the "babysitting blues" ♫
Adventures in Babysitting follows Chris as she decides to take a babysitting gig to keep her mind occupied after her boyfriend cancels their anniversary dinner. The subjects of their care are siblings Sarah and Brad (Maia Brewton and Keith Coogan), but Brad's obnoxious best friend Daryl (Anthony Rapp) also inserts himself in the equation. But things go awry when Chris' best friend Brenda calls her for help from Downtown Chicago after she ran away from her home.
As is expected, the problems and crazy situations just pile on top of the other; from something as mundane as a flat tire or forgetting a purse to something as chaotic as finding themselves in the middle of a stolen car operation or in the middle of a gang fight in the subway. That's why she has ♫ the babysitting blues ♪
This is one of those films that I remember seeing often when I was a kid/pre-teen, but that for some reason, I hadn't revisited in probably 20 years or more. Turns out it held up extremely well. In his directorial debut, Chris Columbus takes a very whimsical approach to the situations, similar to what he would do later in Home Alone. It doesn't matter the kids are being chased by criminals or that they're hanging from building ledges, it's all handled with a fun and adventurous tone.
Shue is both charming and commanding as the lead, and the three kids play well off of her and each other. George Newbern, who plays a sporadic love interest for Shue might feel like an unnecessary addition, but he sells the role well. Vincent D'Onofrio also has a memorable supporting role that always stuck in my mind, as he helps the gang go away and out of ♪ the babysitting blues ♫
Last month I was talking on my podcast about "suburban magical realism", as in films that deal with fantastical or absurd situations in a realistic suburban setting, and this is a perfect example of that. I love how it straddles that fine line between what's real and what's silly and/or absurd. It's all fun and adventurous, even when you feel ♫ the babysitting blues ♪ (Baby, baby!)
Grade: