Movies-TV

Saw this movie for the first time

I had seen this movie on the shelves for years and always said, "oh I need to rent that" and just never did. So, I bought it off Amazon since it would be cheaper than me renting anything, since I always end up with late fees. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. It's just a fun light hearted movie that has a good message. I definantly recommend watching the movie.

Best movie that was made in 1991!!!

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a very good movie that has an original plot and great acting.The story is very good and original,a mom goes on a vacation for 2 months and leaves her kids home for the summer with a babysitter that soon dies.basically 20 minutes after the babysitter dies,that part of the story is excluded from the film,since the babysitter isnt mentioned til the end of the movie.The actors gave very good performances in this film.The movie is intended to be a comedy,but really there isnt much comedy in the film,but that shows how good the movie is because the film doesnt need the comedy to be good.The ending was funny though.Long story short,Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a very good movie that gets in my number one list for best movie of 1991.10 out of 10.

Deserves are little more respect...

I never really liked Christina Applegate in anything, I did appreciate looking at her in Married With Children but I never really looked at her as a "quality" actress. But one movie that made me like her a tad more was this one. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead is a classic early 90's vintage farce that is worth your time if you like good silly fun. The acting is pretty bad for the most part, but Christina manages to make it entertaining. If you like good brainless fun, this is about as brainless as a movie can get. Have fun with it.

i really liked this movie!

i didn't think this was going to be good, but it really was. christina applegate surprised me; she acts very well in this and is very pretty! it is funny, and highly watchable. also you can see david duchovny who was always so serious on the X Files as slimy and in a comedy!

Better than the 5/10 rating it has here.

Just saw it again; the cast carries a silly plot, in much the same way as a '40s screwball comedy but with an 80s/90s sensibility and awareness. Applegate and Coogan are really outstanding here, and the supporting cast is smart enough to either support or stay out of the way, as necessary. It's pure humor with no big message, which apparently was a virtue 60 years ago but is unforgivable now. I'd best describe the humor as, "Hilarity ensues as fish out of water learn to breathe air." I'd give it a very solid 6.8 out of 10, worth a rental or a Netflix hit, but not a $20 purchase.Tom

cool movie, but also has my man, David Duchovny

David Duchovny with slick hair? Get on with it, Gidget. He's fine however he puts his hair. Worth watching.

A fun and vibrant film.

I remember watching this film when I was growing up, I loved it then and I still love it.Despite the fact it's obviously predictable, it's a fun film that's well acted and directed and has a great soundtrack.Christina Applegate is quite impressive as Sue-Ellen, as is the rest of the cast.Most of the characters are quite black and white with the obvious "baddies" getting their comeuppance towards the end of the film. Predictable films howeverm, aren't always bad. Especially if they are well acted and the characters are interesting. The only character that was meant to be nice that I found utterly annoying, was Josh Charles as Sue-Ellen's sugary sweet suitor, Bryan. His acting was great don't get me wrong, but I think it's safe to say Bryan wouldn't be MY type!If anything else, this fun film is easy to watch and will remind most people in their mid 20's of their adolescents.

"Park it yourself Metallica breath"

Surely the best line in this movie is "Park it yourself Metallica Breath", if anything, only because it is so dated, ridiculous, and yet still kind of funny because he's talking to X-Files' David Duchovny.This is one of those films they used to make where the plot was strange and funny and meant to be that way. I loved this movie when I saw it in the theaters when I was in first grade, now 12 years later this movie is even funnier. You have to watch this movie as a parody of life. Even the cheesy guy working at the office, 'Gus', is very funny. There really are people like this out there, and that's what makes this film great. You can surely believe all of it is possible. From the traveling mother to Christina Applegate being the teenie bopper girl who has to get a job.... it's great! And somehow the movie being dated in 1991 makes the movie seem even greater. Sometimes makes me wish I was born early enough to really enjoy the 90s, in a great time before people liked cheezy music and... that thing called 'rap'.

Fun to look back on

This is Christina Applegate's first big movie, so i you are a fan this is definitely a neccesity. This movie definitely has its funny moments, but much of the humor is too obvious. If you liked this movie when you were a kid I highly reccoment buying it. There are many jokes that you will get now that you didn't at the time. Also, anybody who is a fan of the early 90s must have this. It is definitely one of the most memorable kid/teen movie from the early 90's/

ignorant fools

why is that everyone seems to discard a notably great film from the 90's. It can never seem to stand up to everybody's high standards of what a good film should be. What happened to just enjoying a film and being moved and captivated by it and in some cases being inspired by it instead of being so damn critical.I am not saying that this is the best film in the world but its on my favorite's list and justifiably so. I'm sure if you've seen it you enjoyed it, the humor of sue Ellen's boss (rose), The innocent romance between sue Ellen and Bryan, the coming of age and stepping up to your responsibilities from Kenny.....a recipe for success.You could even be blind and love it.....i am not blind and i could see its potential.But alas as long as the scornful eyes of others tarnish a perfectly good/great comedy then i say "i pity you fools"...your loss and more fun for me.SERIOUSLY YOU LOVE AND YOUR IN DENIAL........I KNOW YOU ARE....." yeah she like 200 years old"....did you hear clip from spinal tap when she gets the petty cash?

Greaaat Coverup story

I thought this movie was real good - however the ditching of the babysitter and the way she died is like a good pentagon reaad - like she was assasinated by a Russian spy w/ a cyanide umbrella pellet gun and then dumped like Vince (TOY) Foster at a morgue or something. Some speculate the pellet caused a fast acting breast cancer or someting. Well then big sister gets a grown up job at a CIA front Clothes Manufactuer and has one of those British agent clowns w/knifes in his back whos sister is a mole (receptionist) and well they clown around but never make it to third base and then Big sis's brother is a member of a dope club and is lazy expects her to bring home the bread. well big sis delegates all her work to lackey cia analyst well pretending she is an executive double administrative field agent doing inside work . well eventually she grows up to become an adolescent again then she and her whole family win billions since the CIA used hollywood to try to assasinate them for making the movie or trying to destroy the tape or something only the goverment could dreamland up. All of this because of president fords law that the cia could not kill americans oh well we are all rich how i lOVE this comedy

The movie's good, the DVD is awful

This is a movie that I quite enjoy. That said, the DVD version I just purchased is the absolute pits. It looks as though it were shot on a home video camera, and the ambience of the film is totally altered. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is because the movie is good enough to keep even the worst DVD authoring to merit a one-star. Watch this if you see it on TV, or maybe even buy the tape. The DVD, however, is something you want to steer clear of.

Charming!

I love this movie & I always have. What makes this fill so good is simple: Christina Applegate. Her character is very likable & you can't help but root for her & hope she pulls it off. Sue Ellen & her siblings are in trouble when there Mom leaves town & there mean ass babysitter dies on them. They send her to a cemetary & later realize that she had all the cash on her. So, after quiting a dead end job, Sue Ellen types up a false resume that lands her a job as a fashion executive. The following events are hilarious!

Don't Tell Mom I Am Dead!

... 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!

Much better than is to be expected

I loved this movie, I found it very entertaining and would recommend it.I'm often surprised at the points people get hung up on in reviewing movies. They are, after all, FICTION. The main "controversy" surrounding this plot seems to be Sue Ellen's job. I have done office work for over 25 years and yes, it is entirely possible that Sue Ellen could have landed that position without too much trouble. Maybe not inside of five minutes at the first firm she walked into, but using a faked resume, as she was, she could have obtained a pretty soft office job without too much trouble. Some firms I've worked for would verify your more recent work experience, but many others never verify anything on a resume, and I've never once in all my years known of anyone to verify the education one claimed to have. Indeed, I've often kicked myself that I could have claimed to have some precious, worthless high dollar degree and no one would have questioned it.Beyond this, the movie is awfully good for this genre of film. We see the children unexpectedly learning valuable life lessons and it changing them into better people. It's really a rather wholesome movie considering the time period and target audience. I've let my nephews, nieces, and grandchildren watch in my home, there is nothing more objectionable than the very occasional swear word in it.One of my favorite movies from an otherwise dry period in Hollywood, highly recommended.

Summer of Maturity

Director Stephen Herek and writers Neil Landau and Tara Ison present us with a tale that requires a lot of suspension of disbelief.

This 1991 flick focuses on the chaotic life of the Crandell Family, headed by a single mother (Concetta Tomei) who is to vacation in Australia for three months.
She leaves her five children in the care of octogenarian Mrs. Struak (Eda Reiss Merin), who appears nice on the surface, but who proves to be a tyrannical martinet once Mrs. Crandell leaves. Luckily, her tyranny is cut short after less than a day with her sudden death.

Rather than calling the authorities, the children dispose of her in front of a funeral home, and the oldest child, Sue Ellen(Christina Applegate), takes a job at a hot dog stand when they discover that the money their mother left for household expenses was with the corpse.
Sue Ellen's co-worker and High School sweetheart, Bryan (Josh Charles),

tries to rekindle a romance. But Sue Ellen moves on, using a fake resume to get a job with a fashion firm. She is mistakenly employed as an executive when she only wanted the receptionist's position. But her new boss, Rose Linsey, (Joanna Cassidy)is deeply impressed. Rose is dating co-worker, Gus (John Getz), who makes advances towards the pretty ingenue. Co workers Bruce, and Cathy (David Duchovny, Kimmy Robertson) try to discredit Sue Ellen.
At home Sue Ellen's brother Kenny ( Keith Coogan, with the acting chops of grandfather Jackie) begins a transition from a pot smoking slacker to an efficient household manager and cook. Younger siblings, including softball player, Melissa, lovelorn Zach, and adventerous Walter (Danielle Harris, Christopher Pettiet, and Robert Hy Gorman) fall in line as well.
Inevitably, there are critical missteps, and Sue Ellen gives herself and her siblings one more chance fore redemption before turning everyone in. Watch for a scene of Kenny and Sue Ellen sparring like an old married couple.
Sue Ellen is slated to give a fashion presentation, and with a lot of help from their friends, the Crandell kids pull it off brilliantly.
But Sue Ellen's lies are soon exposed, and Mom comes home and pulls the plug.

No matter. Rose expresses her gratitude for the teenager's help during the summer, and may help her get into college.
Mrs. Crandell is impressed by her oldest son's reinvention of himself, and the positive aspect of this story is that the kids inspire their friends to have a sense of direction for their lives as well.
The whereabouts of the babysitter's remains seem rather irrelevant in the end.

Harmless entertainment

You know... I've seen this a couple of times and I'd see it again. It made me laugh. It was charming. It was a harmless flick; no psyches were harmed in the making thereof. Granted, no real thought needs to be put into watching it. But it was fun, and I enjoyed it.Christina Applegate especially impressed me, which is noteworthy as -- at the time -- I really disliked her as a result of really disliking "Married With Children." She was not only good in her role but, I have to say, pretty much won me over. I can't say that the film made me wish I had siblings or a dead babysitter, but it did entertain me, and it made me smile to remember it watching this review, which has got to be worth something.

AWESOME--A pure comedy and VERY fun to watch.

This movie is different. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge movie critic and have all sorts of favorite top-notch movie that this may not compare to (Lord of the Rings for instance)--but when I watched "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead" I absolutely loved it! I still watch it whenever it's on cable. This movie is HILARIOUS, and I'm dead serious! I laughed so many times throughout the film.I really like it though because of the HUGE family concept it had in it. When I was watching, I dreamed of being in that family with the Crandells (Sue Ellen "Swell", Kenny, Melissa, Zach and Walter) spending my "summer vacation" with them 'cuz they looked like they were having a BLAST! That would have been awesome if they were all a family in real life today, yes, even in 2004, 'cuz they were a perfect 5!Let's get to the notable lines....check this out, out of all the movies I've seen in life, this one really stood out with the character lines....some were funny and very memorable.."where's Caryolyn, always late, nerver answering calls, ---- Sue ellen "talks like she's chewing her face...""that's her..."Kenny on the phone w/mom on the dead old babysitter: "uhh...she's not here, she......she went to the yarn store..."Walter yellin kenny for help with the new tv that came in: "kenny! kenny I need you!... help! somethin's wrong with the TV antenna!"kenny: "I...(coughing eating too many waffles and syrups w/his frenz upstairs) I....agh..cough.cough....ackkhh.....have bob barker help ya!" -- lolRose NEVER getting mad at sue ellen: "you let cathy do the q.e.d. report?! "uh..huh.." i was wondering, how you were gonna get that and the other files done at the same time! bravo!"zach usin swell's $$ to buy cynthia a diamond: "you bought her a diamond?! how much was it zach? "it was a chip!.."Melissa's turn to take out the trash: "melissa it's your turn to take out the trash" " i couldn't fit in my schedule..."kenny mad @ swell for the party she was having: "i'm stuck here, cooking and cleaning, helping melissa with her homework, being a role model for zack, spending quality time with walter!, doing your Party shit!! You know I'm sick and tired of not bein appreciated anymore!!" swell: "i appreciate you!..." kenny: "EAT S H I T ! !"-- LOL dude that was THE funniest moment of the entire movie!! look at kenny's face when he says that!so you see, it was hilarious! man I can go on and on about how much the crandells looked like they were havin fun. In 1991, it seriously did look fun. this is prob. the only movie where it is very teen flicky and manages to keep itself as a high-class movie (as opposed to those other stupid teen flicks about girls and guys dating all the time), since this had a bit of maturity knocked into it with sue ellen workin at that gaw company.All in all, one of my favs. I just thought it was AWESOME. Two words to describe if I can, "fun" and "interesting".Loved it!

Awesome Christina Applegate!

Christina Applegate in what I consider her best movie roll. Totally in control by personal motivation, she turns a failing clothing company into a fashion industry great!! As A Teenager!!! Good humor, fun, and totally crazy, A must see!!!!

The cool actrice

Christina Applegate is my favourite actrice.I love her films.
"Don't tell mom the babysistter's dead"is one of the greadest comedies in the world.I watch Christina in "Married...with children"
Like Kelly Bundy she is so funny and i think she is always funny!