Flashback Friday - Adventures in Babysitting

 This week's Flashback is brought to you by Elisabeth Shue and the Baby-Sitting Blues.

Adventures in Babysitting is a terrible movie that I watch every time it's on cable. When it's 3 pm on Sunday afternoon, I can flip through the channels past reruns of Rachael Ray, marathons of Rock of Love, and some version of Law and Order, and there on TBS or TNT is Adventures in Babysitting, as reliable as hemorrhoids.  

 

Shue is questionably convincing as seventeen-year-old Chris Parker, who is stood up by her boyfriend and ends up taking a last-minute babysitting gig with the Andersons. When her best friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller) is stranded at the downtown Chicago bus station surrounded by scary black and/or homeless people, Chris's and the Andersons' quiet suburban existences are jarred by several life-threatening experiences in the scary inner city. Seriously, this movie is so unbelievably racist. I've seen it about 45 times.

I watch this movie for two reasons:

1) Shue's terrible attempt at blues singing:

and

2) Vincent D'Onofrio, with a glorious curly, blond mullet, as Thor:

Despite starring in this ridiculously bad movie that I have to watch every time it's on, Elisabeth Shue gets a lifetime pass for playing "herself" in Hamlet 2. As for Vincent D'Onofrio, his lifetime pass is still pending. He has not only this to answer for, but also his ham-fisted overacting on L&O: Criminal Intent. You're on notice, D'Onofrio!

Comments

[Fawn Amber]

I've got the....Bay-beh sittin blues! (baby, baby!)

Yeah, I'm right there with you. I even (gulp) own this one on DVD, as my sister bought it for me as a birthday gift a few years back. So my children now can recite it as well.

And George Newbern? He's a local boy. And yum.

[cindy w]

Ok, I looooved this movie back in its day, but I haven't seen it in probably 15 years. Which is why I had no effing clue that that was Vincent D'Onofrio as the blond mulleted thor. My god.

Also, because I haven't seen it in so long, I never really thought about just how horribly racist the entire movie is. But, um, yes. Wow.

[melissa]

I have seen this movie approximately 42 times.

[Kelly]

This was one of my favorite movies of all time, back in the day. I had it taped on VHS along with my other faves, "The Lost Boys" and "Jumping Jack Flash". It was all so simple back then. Any one of these movies could call for pizza and ice cream veg-fests with my best friend. BTW, when you are stoned and watching this movie, you can belt out Baby-Sitting Blues, like no one's business.

[Adventures In Babywearing]

One of my very favorites ever. And part of a (joke) when I named my blog before I really knew what blogging was. Sigh.

Steph

[Washington "I Charge By The Hour AND By The Number Of Kids" Cube]

I've never seen it, but I'll watch for it. Love Vincent. Full Metal Jacket? Intense. Then that award winning episode of Homicide where he was trapped on a subway line. Mystic Pizza as "Joe" the fisherman. Loved his comedic turn. I sure miss him on Law and Order: CI. OH! And The Cell playing the demonized Carl with JLo.

[Stephanie]

I love this movie. I have watched it every time it's on TV. And while it is racist in many ways, it also reflects the very real dichotomy between rich, suburban Chicago and the inner-city. There are a lot of very much entrenched issues between black and white in Chicago.

[JenGid]

I had a bed exactly like hers in the movie, and frequently used the post top as a microphone. I performed that opening song and dance to many times to admit!

[A Different Katie]

Ahhh, so good. Totally forgot about the racist bits. I just thought Brenda was a crazy douche.

I always wanted her rainbow scarf. Sniff.

I also own this on DVD although I think it remains unopened since I also watch it every single time it is on and can recite the whole damn thing. Really no need to crack it open!

[Issa]

Oh I need to Netflix this and show it to my girls. It was my favorite movie for years. Thanks for the reminder.

[Julia]

Hi, me too! Can not resist when I see it's on.

[watch movies for free]

I have seen this movie completely and I love this movie. I would like to watch this movie once again. It is quite entertaining and fun movie...