Adventures In Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (aka A NIGHT ON THE
TOWN)Â (15)
D: Chris Columbus
Touchstone/Silver Screen Partners III (Debra Hill & Linda
Obst)
USA 🇺🇸 1987
98 mins
Â
Comedy
Â
W: David Simkins
DP: Ric Waite
Ed: Fredric Steinkamp & William Steinkamp
Mus: Michael Kamen
Â
Elisabeth Shue (Chris Parker), Keith Coogan (Brad
Anderson), Maia Brewton (Sara Anderson), Anthony Rapp (Daryl Coopersmith), Bradley Whitfield (Mike Todwell), Calvin Levels (Joe Gipp), Penelope Ann Miller (Brenda), Vincent D'Onofrio
(Dawson)
When a date with her boyfriend is cancelled, a fun-loving
teenager plans a quiet evening watching a neighbour's kids, but when her frantic friend, Debra, calls to be rescued from the dingy dangers of a downtown bus station, a dull evening explodes
into riotous, hair-raising adventures as they get chased by gangsters, escape the knives & billets of warring subway gangs and sing the blues in a nightclub. A night on the town they'll
never forget.Â
A rather cheesy screenplay with stereotypical characters
doesn't stop this movie being a real hoot, with a few moments of belly laughs and a genuine feelgood air about it. Elisabeth Shue's performance makes it all the more appealing and the
'babysitting blues' scene is just magic.
It's a real shame this didn't get as much attention as
other teen-orientated comedies of the 1980's. It deserved better exposure.
7/10
Did
You Know:
The project started in the 1960s, with Jane Fonda in mind
for the lead role. It was abandoned in the 1970s, then Chris Columbus restarted it in the 1980s for his directorial debut. Jane Fonda was too old for the role by then, so it went to Bridget
Fonda, who withdrew from the project before auditions began.
Award Wins & Nominations:
MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:
Wins: none
Nominations: 2 (Best Actress in a Leading Role; Best Original Song)
OSCARS:
Wins: none
Nominations: none
BAFTAS
Wins: none
Nominations: none
OTHER WINS:
Paris Film Festival (Best Actress); Young Artist Awards (Best Young Actress - Comedy)