Customer Reviews

Adventures in Babysitting [VHS]

5 star:		(106)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Beginning your movie with the right song can get you off to a good start and "Adventures in Babysitting" gives us that golden oldie "And Then He Kissed Me" as Chris Parker prepares for her big date with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, this clown promptly proceeds to dump our heroine, which only proves he is a fool because Chris is played by Elisabeth Shue. Those of us who remember "Call to Glory" already knew that Shue was a babe and so does Brad Anderson (Keith Coogan), the kid who is too old for the babysitter on whom he has a mondo crush. Into the mix we add Sara Anderson (Maia Brewton), the adorable kid sister who has a thing for the Mighty Thor from Marvel Comics (she must have got the cool Thor helmet from Stan Lee, Jack Kirby or somebody in the ol' Bullpen), Daryl Coopersmith (Anthony Rapp), Brad's best friend who has yet to learn when to shut up, and Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller), Chris' best friend who is stuck in downtown Chicago at a bus depot without her glasses, having decided that running away from home was a bad idea. Unfortunately for our heroine, deciding to simply go down and pick up Brenda proves to be a bad idea. With the three kids in tow, Chris takes off for the big city. When the station wagon gets a flat tire that is only the first in a massive chain of misfortunes that befall our plucky lass. There will be a tow truck man with a claw, street thugs with knives on the El, gangster in a chop shop, a college frat party, a close encounter with the parental units at a party high at top a skyscraper, and a delightful session of singing "The Babysitter Blues."

In its own way, "Adventures in Baby Sitting is in the mold of the Indiana Jones films, where the cast of characters are stuck on a roller coaster of exciting encounters. Our harried heroine puts up with all of this in order to save her friend and get the kids home before their parents find out they have spent the night narrowly escaping death instead of being safe at home watching the tube. Even though there is a running gag that Chris looks exactly like the Playmate of the Month, this is a movie aimed for kids in the age range of her charges. There is enough of a cartoonish element to the bad guys to take the edge off of the dangers involved and of course we know from the first note of the movie that everything will turn out okay in the end and Chris is going to top off the evening by getting kissed by someone who might actually deserve her. Shue's natural performance holds the film together and although she has gone on to decidedly more dramatic roles in her more recent films, she evinces a natural flair for comedy in this one. However, be warned: once your kidlets have seen this 1987 Disney film they are going to be grossly disappointed in whoever you pay to watch them the next time you go out for a night of fun. Final note: Be sure to watch the entire credits at the end.

Another classic 80's comedy, ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (aka "A Night on the Town") comes to DVD to delight old fans and new.

When highschool senior Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) decides to spend Saturday night babysitting the Anderson kids Sara (Maia Brewton) and Brad (Keith Coogan) as well as Brad's best friend Daryl (Anthony Rapp), no one, not least Chris, will be prepared for the wild ride ahead, when Chris' best friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller) phones and begs to be rescued from the Chicago bus depot after an aborted attempt to run away. Chris bundles the kids in the car and heads for downtown Chicago, but after getting stranded thanks to a flat tyre, the gang end up in a mess of trouble!

This is such a fun film. Elisabeth Shue glows as Chris and offers one of her funniest comedy performances. Whilst she is best-remembered by most film critics for her role in "Leaving Las Vegas", to 80's kids like me, she'll forever be fondly regarded as Chris in AIB.

Anthony Rapp, Keith Coogan and Maia Brewton are hilarious in their roles, and Penelope Ann Miller is a scream in the film's clever subplot of Brenda's adventures in the bus depot. The film also features early turns from Vincent d'Onofrio, Bradley Whitford and George Newbern.

The DVD is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen, with no extras whatsoever, but fans will just be happy to finally have this 80's gem on DVD. A bargain price too.

This is one of those rare gems!
Everyone, I believe, can relate to the craziness that goes on here.... it is just taken to the extreme in this movie.
Elizabeth Shue is fantastic as the babysitter. One of the most memorable lines is when she proclaims... "I'm the babysitter!".
Not to be missed. Enjoyable for everyone. Must see classic and timeless comedy.

This movie is so entertaining, it should be in every video/DVD collection. It's a simple story about a babysitter forced to take her charges with her into the city as she hurries to help out a friend. This plausible premise quickly escalates until the babysitter and kids find themselves in situations that James Bond might find daunting. The acting, the music and the appealing plot make the story enjoyable for everybody from kids to parents. I popped the disk into the machine with no great expectations, and could not stop watching until it finished. Other films may use crotch-biting dogs and semen in the hair to substitute shock for hilarity. But Adventures in Babysitting delivers real laughs while taking you on a wild ride through the wicked bowels of the city.

This has got to be my favorite movie of all time.I've been watching it since I was two and Elizabeth Shue does an amazing job.It has all the elements you could want in a movie.From comedy to adventure,to suspense to romance.You can't find a better movie that everyone can watch together.It is a really good family movie and I have seriously watched it hundreds of times.You can't go wrong with this movie.I promise!!!

I highly recommend this film. It falls in the category of "Ferris B. Day Off", "Can't Buy Me Love", "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead", "License To Drive" and "Goonies"........just a bunch of kids running around in trouble all the time. When I first saw this film....it was in the late eighties.....I just fell in love with Elisabeth Shue and her performance in "Adventures in Babysitting". Ever since the opening scene when she lip-synched to the song: "AND THEN HE KISSED ME". She plays as a 17 year old (but 23 in real life at the time) getting stuck babysitting for 3 kids when her boyfriend cancels on their date. Her night is filled with adventure facing one obsticle after another trying to get the kids back safe and sound. Filmed on location in Chicago and in Toronto. The famous scene where Elisabeth Shue sings the "BLUES" was in a bar in downtown Toronto called "The Silver Dollar". I've been there myself when I attended the University of Toronto.......today it has closed down. It is a great film and even better yet.....it stars a beautiful, talented actress......Elisabeth Shue.

My children still watch our VHS tape "Adventures in Babysitting". This is one movie that you can watch more than once and come away smiling. This DVD is definitely going on my Christmas list. Gotta update the library. Boy, some of the best movies were made back in the 80's.

I purchased this movie for my 4 year old daughter. It was one of my favorite movies when it came out on video (I was in high school at the time). I still love this movie! I don't watch much TV, but my daughter watched this movie again last weekend and I found myself sitting down and catching a few scenes. It is such a great movie! I love it! Some of the clothing the characters wear (leggings) "date" the movie, but overall, the story line and film quality is like a "new release." There are a couple of instances of inappropraite language, but nothing major. I'm so glad this movie is available on DVD. This movie is definitely a "buyer." One of my other all time favorite movies is "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" with Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.

There are certain movies in various stages of your life that stay with you no matter what. These movies might linger on and have a special place because of a certain time you saw them, or it just reminds you of something. It doesn't matter in any way if these movies were even any good at all. They were good to you for a special purpose, and that's what matters. This one is just one of those kinds of movies for me. While it's far from being a classic piece of American cinema, it isn't that bad at all, and delivers 99 minutes of pure fun and silliness. I was 8 when I saw this movie, and I remember renting it many times over in the years after. I guess it just brings back fond memories of my childhood. Elisabeth Shue stars in this 1987 comedy as Chris Parker, a very popular high school student who seems to be living the teenage dream. She's pretty, popular, and is going out with a top of the line guy(West Wing's Bradley Whitford of all people). Chris' big night out with her boyfriends turns sour when he breaks their date and now her night is ruined. Or so she thinks. She accepts the job of babysitting the Anderson kids. Brad(Keith Coogan), is a dorky kinda kid with a bad 80's haircut who has a crush on Chris. Who wouldn't?. Little sister Sara(Maia Brewton) is a cute littly dynamo who's obsessed with fictional character Thor, complete with cape and viking helmet. The quiet evening at home turns into anything but when Chris' nutty best friend Brenda(Penelope Ann Miller), calls for help. Brenda is at the bus station and needs Chris to come pick her up. What seems like a simple little trek into downtown Chicago to pick up a friend turns into a nightmare. For starters, they are joined by Brad's annoying friend(played by Anthony Rapp, who went on to do "Rent" on Broadway), and to make matters worse, they get a flat tire on the freeway. From there on, it's a mad dash thru the mean streets of Chicago, coming into contact with one handed truckers, car thieves, gangs, doctors, Frat house keggers, blues singers, and a long, blonde haired Vincent D'Onofrio. I don't which is scarier. AIB is a perfect 80's movie. It fits right into the category that already includes the best of John Hughes' input(and what big 80's kid movie didn't he do?!)and a few others. One of the pluses is the cast. Shue is wonderful as Chris, a young girl who is trying desperatley to save her friend and keep her young charges out of harm's way. The kids themselves are good. They may have some typical young kid annoyances, but they are all pretty good and make it feel like they are real kids who you actually like. Penelope Ann Miller is one of the best parts here. With her big glasses, nerdy appearance, and comical misadventures of her own in the bus terminal, she delivers many of the funniest moments. There are some moments that just scream "Hollywood", like the car thief with a heart of gold, but this is just for fun. AIB is a fun and nostalgic trip back to 1987. I just heard that there are plans underway for a re-make. Hollywood, pleas leave a good thing alone.

This movie was huge when I was a child in the 80s. It became a staple in my house then (yes, on BetaMax in those days) and is still a staple now in the 21st century! Funny and entertaining plot and actors without tons of horrible language or situations. I think the only possiblity for negative feedback would be the reference to Playboy magazine in part of it. No swearing or nudity.. very wholesome family movie! I still watch it (despite the fact that I have it memorized now) and still enjoy it immensely! Definately buy this one! :) A++++!