I’ve actually wanted to write about Adventures in Babysitting for a while. I even mentioned it in a previous Flashback on sleepovers. This wasn’t a traditional go-to sleepover movie, like Clue, but honestly? It would have worked for me. I love this movie. Then again, how do you not love a movie that starts like this:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nly-bfguf4k&w=560&h=315]
JOSH LYMAN!! “SO COOL.”
I still know all the words to this song because of this movie. I also still know all the words to this song as well:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK_NSiPB52U&w=480&h=360]
Look, kids! Diversity! As only a 1980s movie geared toward middle-class White people can do it. Blues, indeed.
I kid, of course. Kind of. Heavens know that director Chris Columbus had good intentions, even if he does tend to deliver them wrapped in treacly finery. How he ended up directing the first two Harry Potter movies still confounds me.
Still, Adventures in Babysitting was one of my absolute favorite movies when I was a kid. I will still stop any time it’s on television. I still think of this movie first whenever I see Elisabeth Shue. Doesn’t matter that I’ve seen her in many movies since…doesn’t matter that it’s close to 30 years since she made this movie (WTF?!?) and that she’s going to turn 50 this year…doesn’t matter that she nearly won an Oscar for playing a Vegas hooker…or even that she’s once more back in Sin City, this time working my favorite Vegas beat of all:
She’s first and foremost Chris Parker, and for this reason alone, no one should ever fuck with her. Not even the Lords of Hell.
Amazingly enough, I don’t own this on DVD, although I still have my very well-loved VHS copy, purchased many moons ago from Suncoast (ooh, look at all these Flashback callbacks! HOLLA!). I really don’t know why I don’t own this. I should probably fix this, if only for this scene alone…actually, you know what? Here, denizens. Just…here:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN5IUKV07us&w=560&h=315]
I’ve no idea how long this link will last. Enjoy it while you can…or I might be forced to spike your Tab with Drano…
