Adventures in Babysitting

Name: Adventures in Babysitting
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller, Comedy, Romance
Released: July 3, 1987
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 45
Cast: Elisabeth Shue

1987

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Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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Adventures in Babysitting

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: July 3, 1987 | PG-13

Starring: Elisabeth Shue

Summary: A babysitter must battle her way through the big city after being stranded there with the kids she's looking after.

Director: Chris Columbus

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller, Comedy, Romance, Crime, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

Adventures in Babysitting seemed littered with unrealized possibilities. The movie has good raw material, but it never really was pulled together into something I could care about much. Read full review

Michael Wilmington

It's one of those movies that, however well it works now, might have been pretty bad with a different cast and director. It doesn't really transcend its genre; it just stretches it in amusing and sometimes surprising ways. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Babysitting, the directorial debut of The Goonies and Gremlins writer Chris Columbus, is a sweet-natured, adolescent variation on the big-city black comedy After Hours. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Chris Columbus weighs in adequately in his directorial debut, thanks to a fresh, solid lead performance from Elisabeth Shue. Yet the film can never rise above the leaden script. Read full review

Janet Maslin

To be fair, ''Adventures in Baby-Sitting'' is determinedly cute, and its pep may well be appreciated by anyone with a frame of reference as narrow as the film makers' own. It's clear from the film's opening moments that pep is all that matters here anyhow. Read full review

Chris Dafoe

Amusement parks are fine, but with the danger gone, Adventures in Babysitting seems a lot like going to the park when all the scary rides are closed. [03 July 1987]

Hal Boedeker

Watching Adventures in Babysitting is like eating a carton of candy bars. The first bites are sweet, but after a while, you're gagging. This is one gooey confection. [07 July 1987, p.C7]

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User Reviews

Tss5078

Jan 31, 2018

Is it just me or were comedies funnier in the 80s? Adventures In Babysitting was by no means raunchy, it doesn't even compare to the films of today in that respect, but in someways there just seem to be a lot more laughs in these classic 80s comedies. For those who don't know the story,Is it just me or were comedies funnier in the 80s? Adventures In Babysitting was by no means raunchy, it doesn't even compare to the films of today in that respect, but in someways there just seem to be a lot more laughs in these classic 80s comedies. For those who don't know the story, Chris (Elizabeth Shue) passes up a night with her boyfriend to babysit for two kids. It was the right choice, but when her best friend is left stranded and in trouble, Chris is forced to take the kids into Chicago to go and rescue her. What awaits her there is an adventure she never saw coming, with everything from gangsters to car trouble and perhaps even a new romantic interest? This film was supposed to be the one that made Karate Kid alum, Elizabeth Shue, a big star, but despite the films success and eventual cult status, it never happened. It's hard to understand why that is. I think it has a lot to do with her virtually disappearing for three years after this film, only to re-appear for a bit part in Back To The Future. Had she ridden the wave of success from this performance, she would have been one of the late 80s biggest names. Shue was fantastic, tough when she needed to be, caring when she wanted to be, and of course she always had the right line on the tip of her tongue. Add to the mix two obnoxious young teens and a tough as nails young tomboy and you have a mixture for success. Lest we forget this was a Christopher Columbus film, so we also have all those oddballs and crazy dumb criminals we know and love thrown in there too. Adventures In Babysitting was almost like a trial run for Home Alone, three years later. While the film certainly had it's share of flaws, and would not be rated PG-13 by today's standards, it was a largely enjoyable family film and in many ways a distant cousin to Home Alone. I loved this film when I was a kid and I appreciate it even more now, Adventures In Babysitting is highly recommended fun for the whole family!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

GIjOE54

Apr 7, 2023

Adventures in Babysitting is a creative concept of the worst possible way a simple babysitting job can go wrong. While it does stumble at times in the plot department, it’s meant to all be played for laughs and the humor absolutely lands. The characters – while not extremely deep – are doneAdventures in Babysitting is a creative concept of the worst possible way a simple babysitting job can go wrong. While it does stumble at times in the plot department, it’s meant to all be played for laughs and the humor absolutely lands. The characters – while not extremely deep – are done well and don’t generally follow tropes; all of which backed with decent acting. The Chicago setting is treated like a fantasy world, with a sort of mystic air of danger and intrigue to idealistic kids who have never traveled outside the suburbs, though it does suffer from a bad CGI background building insert once or twice. The soundtrack is mostly licensed and recognizable tunes that also includes one original song that plays into the plot; which helps to offset the slightly bland movie music that is presented. Sound design is very 80s in the best possible way with the over-exaggerated noises we’ve all come to love from the era. While the ending is somewhat abrupt and confusing, the film is a lot of fun for young adults and up and I highly recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SimpsonFans

Jun 13, 2017

What a good film. It has a loot full of funny scenes and I heard that RyanGoodwin TheMovieEntertainment has the 1988/1997 VHS of this. So yeah I must agree with him.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ThisIsSparta666

Jun 13, 2017

Adventures in Babysitting seemed littered with unrealized possibilities. The movie has good raw material, but it never really was pulled together into something I could care about much.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Creepers200

Jun 13, 2017

Adventures in Babysitting seemed littered with unrealized possibilities. The movie has good raw material, but it never really was pulled together into something I could care about much.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Homer_Steel

Jul 17, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a Fantastic and Adventurous Comedy. From Tow truck Driver to the Club where "Nobody leaves this place without singing the Blues.". This Flick had me laughing from beginning to End.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

LamontRaymond

Jun 12, 2017

Not nearly as funny/clever as I hoped it would be, but Elizabeth Shue is still eminently watchable. It's one of those flicks that you watch on TBS on a Saturday afternoon when there's nothing else going on - and you don't regret it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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