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Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Moral story disguised as supposed
Review: Watched this one boring weekday night, and was somewhat surprised I ended up liking it more than I thought I would (albeit without all the cigarette chain smoking - this film is crammed full of it, and I thought it added little if anything to Applegate's character or that of her boss, played by Joanna Cassidy). To a large extent, the movie is basically a "chick movie" version of "Risky Business," with Christina Applegate playing the Tom Cruise role. The first 15 minutes or so of the film is pretty much what the title makes one expect (self-fixated Southern Californian mall brat -- Applegate, initially playing almost the same sort of character she did in "Married with Children" -- runs into a nightmare -- the babysitter -- who -- yuck yuck -- conveniently drops dead ten minutes into the movie) but turns in a completely different direction as soon as that babysitter is gone. With no one in charge of a moneyless household, Applegate's character suddenly has to grow up -- fast -- and the morals (work hard, be true to those you love, take responsibility, etc.) start bombarding you. Again. And again. And AGAIN. In fact, there is less and less humor the further one gets into the film, to the point where by the end you almost sense you just watched a drama, not a comedy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Neat little dark comedy
Review: This movie is often seen as a teen movie when in fact it's not only highly intelligent but also nicely satirical and comic. The plot has Mom going away for two months and leaving her five children, headed by Sue 'Swell 'Ellen (Applegate), in the charge of a babysitter. However, when the babysitter dies they accidently bury all their housekeeping money with her, so Swell goes off to get a high-paid job in the fashion industry.

As the lead, Applegate has a winning mixture of sweetness and assertiveness. She manages to perfectly balance the humour alongside her role as a stressed teenager who realises that being an adult isn't all it's cracked up to be. Joanna Cassidy as her boss is an absolute riot, with some really classic lines, and the rest of the kids are good too. Anyone who is a fan of 'The X-Files' will notice David Duchovany as an office clerk, which he plays with a wonderfully smarmy attitude.

The movie does well to subvert the teen genre with a 17 year-old that tries to pass herself off as being 27, rather than the other way round. What first looks like a straighforward comedy manages to be a lot more. The fish-out-of-water scenario at work rapidly transforms into a realisation of how restricting an adult life can be. This is best shown in a great little marital spoof between Swell and her older brother Kenny, as he shouts at her for being home late and she screams back that she's the one that provides the money. Plus, the cute little romance between Swell and a local kid who sells burgers is shown as a little window of fun for Swell rather than an obligatory sideline. Swell's final speech that she's not ready to be an adult will strike a chord with several, and it's yet more credit to Applegate that she pulls off the more emotional side of her character so well.

There's plenty to recommend here, especially if you like knowing little sweeps at high school movies, fashion sense of the day and hierarchy within the workplace.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Don't Tell Mom I Am Dead!
Review: ... AS you can see the Title of my review the movie just [stunk]! I first saw it on [TV] and decided I'd watch it. Little to my surpise it was a good movie but after Sue Ellen(AppleGate) gets a job it goes down the heel... The kids are left at home with no money and little Blonde supporting the family while their mom has gone to Euroupe with her Boyfriend on a Busines Trip. The plot is a real bad one. Its the summer time with their mom on a business trip. After that I went Zzzz! It was snooze central. My brother kept watching it and I got sick the same night we both watched it. But anyway, back to the Plot. The 5 kids are being baby-sitted by a 100 year old woman. When the kids experince trouble in the house their baby-sitter dies.

If You like Corny and Comedy films, this would be the best movie for your collection. If You like Horror and Mature viewing this isn't the movie for you Collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED COMEDIES OF ALL TIME!
Review: "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" has never been given the respect it deserves. I think that is due to the obvious two reasons. First...the title. It's rather silly and it makes the movie appear to be aimed at the kiddie market which isn't really the case. Second...Christina Applegate. She's always been known as the ditzy blonde on "Married...With Children" and a lot of people haven't taken notice of what a fine actress she is.

Those two reasons have probably kept many from watching this film and that's a real shame. It's a real winner of a story once you get past the corny beginning. Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate) and her younger siblings are left under the watchful eye of an elderly babysitter when their mom leaves the country for a couple of months. As the title suggests, the babysitter soon passes away. To make matters worse, the kids are left without any money and Sue Ellen has to get a job to support the family.

OK...I realize that this premise probably doesn't have you in a frenzy to see it. However, it quickly evolves into a film which is both extremely humorous and touching. Sue Ellen gets a job at a uniform manufacturer and her boss, Rose, is delightfully played by Joanna Cassidy. Cassidy gives her role an amazing spark that you'll have to see to understand. Just watching her and listening to her laugh puts an instant smile on my face. Sue Ellen also develops a relationship with a young man named Bryan (Josh Charles) who works at a fast food joint. I was honestly surprised with the amount of care that was given in regards to the romantic side of the movie. You are shown two people that you truly care about and you want to see them stay madly in love.

The supporting cast does a solid job as well. All of Sue Ellen's co-workers (including David Duchovny!) are very well cast. The younger actors, including Keith Coogan, also hold their own playing the siblings. It all culminates in an ending that is both inspirational and moving. If you are considering watching this movie than I would urge you to do so. It may not be anything that's gonna change the world...but it's some darn good entertainment!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Unrealistic, but very enjoyable
Review: It's a little embarrassing to admit that I like this movie, but I do, and I've seen it several times! Honestly, it's one of those movies that are sort of stupid (in that unbelievable things happen), but you just like 'em anyway!

Although there are several instances where a viewer will have to suspend their disbelief (ie. the mom leaves FIVE children in the care of a babysitter she doesn't even know while she travels out of the country for the ENTIRE summer? Yeah, right! And the kids don't get busted for what they did to the babysitter, AND Applegate fools everyone at her job?) However, in spite of a string of what seem to be unrealistic occurrences throughout the film, it's believable enough to really enjoy. Just don't expect a highbrow film. You've got to be in the mood for goofiness.

The acting is fairly well done and there are lots of funny moments, primarily ones where Applegate tries to adjust to her new role as "working mom".

My favorite scene is where Applegate and Coogan (Kenny) face off in the kitchen, each after a hard day's work. It is a hilarious male/female role-reversal and a real gem of a scene.

Parents should preview this because of mild language, a couple of sexual references, a bit of drugs, and a centerfold poster.

Overall, I like it because it's funny and interesting to see how Applegate pulls it all off. I also liked the changes each character went through - there was a lot of growing up. It's a funny flick and worth seeing at least once.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Manages to entertain most of the time.
Review: "Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead" is supplied with a plot so unbelievable, yet manages to entertain on a marginal level. After a short-lived theatrical run, the movie made its way to cable channels, where it found a much less aggressive and forgiving audience, one that was willing to accept it as little more than a rainy-day diversion from reality.

The film's sense of smarts is seriously off kilter, telling the story of four kids, all various ages, who are left by their vacationing mother with a babysitter who makes Satan seem like Betty White. The oldest of the children, 17-year-old Sue Ellen (Christina Applegate), is defiant of the rules, so when her siblings look to her for a solution, she marches straight to the sitter's room, only to find her dead in her rocker.

Instead of calling the police, they tuck the corpse into a trunk and leave the cargo on the steps of a funeral home, only to discover that the money supply left by their mother was stashed in her pockets. Without any source of income, Sue Ellen takes charge by getting a job, first at a fast food joint that looks like something out of every clown-fearing person's worst nightmare, and then at a clothing manufacturer, where she manages to make her way to the top in less than two minutes of air-headed dialogue exchanges.

After the babysitter dies, any and all plausibility goes right into that trunk with her body. Accepting that any situation that will take place during this film is purely fictional and outright idiotic will save you much time and frustration; they only get in the way. Sue Ellen's rise to the top seems written by preteen girls for preteen girls, eager for a success story that has some added elements of soap opera (sleazy coworker Gus making moves on Sue Ellen as well as her boss, Rose), and revenge (the spurned receptionist who sets out to ruin Sue Ellen's career and claim it for herself).

But in the end, it's not all that bad after all. The movie does have a degree of lightheartedness about it, and its whimsy and delight in breaking all the rules of logic and intelligence is strangely refreshing. It's an ideal star vehicle for Applegate, and also showcases some good comedic relief from actress Joanna Cassidy, who becomes the sole reason to see the film. While the story has the freshness of a corpse, "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," likes its main character, manages to con its way to our fancy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Totally 80's!!
Review: This movie has it all: Drama, Humor, Romance, Horror, you name it, it's there! I watch this movie at least once a month because the more I watch it, the more I like it! If you feel a bad mood coming on, I would pop this DVD in your player, and get ready to laugh all your problems away! This movie makes you realize how normal your life really is!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Babysitter is dead!!!!!
Review: This is the best movie I have seen that is comedy! It is about these kids mom is leaving to go to Austrialia for 2 months! They have a babysitter that is very old Mrs. Sterack that is mean! So the first night when the kids were having a fit about her, Sue Ellen went to the room started talking and found out that she was dead! She died in her sleep! So Sue Ellen had to go out and get a job! Won't tell you the rest you have to see the movie! I will own this movie in a week when I buy it from Amazon!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Babysitter is dead and nothing to worry about!!!!
Review: This movie is the best movie i have ever seen! This movie is about this mom going to Austrilla for a vaction! and she leaves her children with an old babysitter that dies! so the oldest girl has to go out and find a job! this movie is great for any family! This is the best i have seen this movie a lot of time and wedensday i am going to buy it off of Amazon!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: keith coogan's the entire show
Review: tepid movie with tepid idea saved by insanely good performance by the ever-wonderful keith coogan. i could watch it over and over just to see his magnificent performance. the oscars are a sham when coogan has not even been nominated once. at least worth a rent, but i guarantee you'll fall in love with keith


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