I grew up with this movie and always wanted to be like Chris. She was so beautiful and handled the toughest situations so well. She took the deadliest situations and got the kids out of them so safely. Well, now I babysit and I'm glad I never got in the same situation, but it still made for a great and fun movie.

Chris is a senior who has a big date planned with her boyfriend, but when he cancels, she is forced to babysit the Anderson's daughter, Sara. They also have a son, Brad is a couple years younger and has a huge crush on Chris and decides to cancel on his friend, Darrel to stay home with Chris. But when Chris's best friend, Brenda, calls her from the Anderson's, she finds out her friend is stranded at a bus station and can't get anyone else to help her. So Chris takes Brad and Sara and is forced to take Darrel since he won't leave them alone, they all go into the city of Chicago and end up getting a flat and get into one deadly situation after the next, even getting chased by the Mafia!

This is a fun flick that I still watch 'til this day and have so much fun with. I would always recommend this also for anyone, I truly hope it is discovered by new generations. I still enjoy singing along with the "Babysitting Blues", I think I finally feel Chris's pain, after all, I'm too old to babysit. :D

7/10

The 1980s saw a proliferation of "teen movies". About 90% of them had nothing new to really say, starred teen "heart throbs" and were marketed ONLY to younger, dumber audiences. I was in my teens and twenties in this era, but even I thought these movies were awful==obviously I was the correct age but just "didn't get it". Uh, huh.

Many of these movies featured crude and dumb humor, ample boobies (which is odd, considering the audience technically was too young to be admitted to many of these dreadful films) and low production values. As I said before, the movies seemed to be marketed to dumb people. Don't believe me?! Well think back to such films as the PORKY'S movies, Freddy Kruger films, HALLOWEEN, the later ROCKY films, etc. These films truly were awful.

So, with all this dreck, it was nice to see a few teen-oriented films that didn't insult the audience or feature mind-rot. ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (as well as films such as BETTER OFF DEAD) was a decent film that actually had something to say to teens--and it could be enjoyed by adults as well (what a concept). While the story does have its sexy jokes, teens who know more than adults and silly escapades, it manages some originality and some genuine laughs. It's cute how an innocent little trek into the city results in a long series of unbelievable and dangerous consequences--many of which are quite funny. Give it a try--it's not "rocket science" or Masterpiece Theatre, but it's good old fashioned silly fun.

PS--watch ALL the movie--including the very end. Many times on TV they cut off the very end, but on video or DVD it's there. So, DON'T turn it off when the credits roll.

When Elizabeth Shue took that baby sitting gig for the night with Keith Coogan and little sister Maia Brewton it seemed like easy money. But then she gets a call from her good friend Penelope Ann Miller who has run away from home and is stuck penniless in the Chicago bus terminal. Not to worry, but Elizabeth takes the family car of the parents she's babysitting for and the kids along with her to perform a mission of mercy. Another friend of Coogan's, Andrew Rapp a kid with some raging hormones invites himself along for the ride and before long all of them have a night's worth of Adventures In Babysitting.

It's amazing the number of situations that this group can get into. Adventures In Babysitting is one of those Murphy's Law films in that everything that can possibly go wrong, does go wrong. This group gets in and out of trouble with such ease and aplomb that you kind of hope the film goes on a bit more. Probably just as well it didn't because it would get a bit much.

I was really shocked at learning that 'Thor' was played by a young Vincent D'Onofrio. I've seen him in other things besides Criminal Intent, but this small part at the beginning of his career was a revelation.

Calvin Levels who plays a street smart urban youth who's into carjacking should also get singled out for recognition. He feels kind of sorry for these fish out of their own comfort pond and tries to help them as best he can.

Adventures In Babysitting is a pretty funny teen comedy and definitely a Blockbuster Night's entertainment.