MOVIE REVIEWS

***How a beautiful woman affects men*** An attractive, but otherwise normal and decent teen girl (Alicia Silverstone), takes a short-notice babysitting gig in the Los Angeles area. She unknowingly stirs the fantasies of the middle-aged husband of the house (J.T. Walsh), the preadolescent boy, her current boyfriend (Jeremy London) and his wannabe Fonzie frenemy (Nicky Katt). Alicia Silverstone was a hot item in the 90s, but the direct-to-video “The Babysitter” (1995) fell through the cracks. It’s not great like “Clueless” (1995) or “The Crush” (1993), but it’s still a worthy 90’s Silverstone drama/comedy with romance/thriller elements in the same league as “True Crime” (1995) and “Excess Baggage” (1997). As suggested above, the movie’s about how males of all ages react to a nubile female who’s not completely aware of her effect on males and therefore is indifferent to it. The story is helped by the fact that she’s a genuinely decent, ordinary girl unaware of all the raging male hormones she is unwittingly arousing. “The Babysitter” successfully conveys the intangible world of fantasy that goes on in people’s mind, and not just guys (albeit mostly guys). This is a force that each individual is responsible to monitor and control. If foolishly left unchecked it can result in negative consequences. The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Pasadena & Ventura, California. Additional cast members include Lee Garlington, George Segal and Lois Chiles. GRADE: B-

Well, Alicia Silverstone does a good job. Have to give her that. But, this is pretty much "The Crush" only with a much worse cast, a slightly different plot that still follows the lolita theme, and a the worst possible execution possible. I believe the plot summary is that a man and his children all have a thing for the babysitter... and that is just about all you need to know. Films like this you expect tension, something that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes a knot in the muscles on your back. Tension that is both sexual and fatal. Instead it pushes for an eroticism that is never really achieved and any feelings of peril are absolutely void. The cover suggests enough, but in the end the mood never gets there enough to make it an enjoyable watch.