Adventures in Babysitting

Directed by Chris Columbus, Adventures in Babysitting details the chaos that ensues over one very long night for a Elizabeth Shue’s Chris Parker and her three charges (Keith Coogan’s Brad, Anthony Rapp’s Daryl, and Maia Brewton’s Sarah). It’s a larger-than-life premise that’s employed to fun, inventive effect by Columbus, as the filmmaker, armed with a script by David Simkins, delivers a briskly-paced comedy that benefits from its affable performances and proliferation of memorable sequences and set-pieces – with, in terms of the former, Shue’s thoroughly appealing turn, which is certainly matched by her various costars, elevating the proceedings on an continuing basis. (It’s clear, however, that Penelope Ann Miller’s frequently hilarious efforts as Chris’ increasingly panicked friend remains a highlight from start to finish.) The episodic narrative is, as a result, far more effective and entertaining than one might’ve initially suspected, and although the action-oriented climax is perhaps not quite as compelling as everything preceding it, Adventures in Babysitting predominantly comes off as a top-notch endeavor that hits far more often than it misses.

***1/2 out of ****