The Sitter

As the what title suggests, I don't expect anyone looking forward to watching a drama-comedy that has depth. This is more of a pure comedy and an entertaining one at that for me, so I'd consider it successful.

And yes, The Sitter is quite unoriginal and what movie-goers call "predictable". I admit it's a kind of fun to try to expect the unexpected, but a predictable story does not equal a bad story. In fact, from the beginning of the 80 minutes or so until the end I'd been kept entertained and I honestly didn't experience many boring moments.

Other than its comedic scenes, the movie does have attempts to include moving scenes that make the audience learn something. I would say those attempts are not highly effective but not at all futile efforts.

The best way to conclude The Sitter is to say that it is a good comedy for young adults or above. Language and inappropriate behavior are main reasons this may not be suitable for children or younger teens. The Sitter is an enjoyable movie that is funny and does not require too much thinking to understand.

C+

I know the majority of the film is predictable, dare I say cliché, but the ride was very enjoyable. That is, after-all, the nature of the comedy genre. How often do I go see a comedy for its intricate storyline, radical character development or enigmatic themes? Close to never, honestly, and so with that reasoning why not go balls-out? Jonah Hill is a very likable character in the film with an understandable ploy. It lacks the in-your-face violence of director previous film "Pineapple Express", but it is definitely hilarious, no doubt about that. The kids are very well played, and thankfully come out as pretty decent characters. Thankfully nowhere near as annoying as the duo of the "Are We There Yet?" films. It's definitely a coming-of-age film that may not be a classic, but it certainly is worth seeing.

Why is it that I end up watching The Sitter. Yes people, over films like Girl wit the Dragon Tattoo and Young Adult, which were both playing at the theater we went to. Well, why? Because I was with a girl, and she decided to see The Sitter. Blasphemy!

The Sitter is just as formulaic as you expect, a guy decided to babysit and problems tart appearing. We've seen this all before, but not quite as horrible as this. The film, from the opening shot, becomes the sort of obnoxious kid you can't shut up who says all the wrong things. The film's dialogue is pretty atrocious, and it thinks its being funny when it really isn't. The film calms down a bit as it goes along, but for a story like this to work, no matter how formulaic, unoriginal, and predictable, you need good dialogue at least. That is the problem. I seriously cringed so many times.

It's not all horrible, since there are a few laughs here and there, and Jonah Hill tries his best so much. In a way, I can't help but hate him for taking this role, but without Hill it would be even worse. Also, the only real likable character here is Max Slater's, who manages to have some more quiet moments in the film, but even he is completely two- dimensional. Skip this please, and what's even worse is that I could have been able to see Dragon Tattoo or Young Adult. Such shame taste some audiences have, although to be fair the girl I went with didn't like it much either. Hopefully she learns.

"You done messed with the wrong babysitter."

As fat boy comedies go, The Sitter is just another caricature-ridden, offensive satire with kids. Noah (Jonah Hill) does much of the politically-incorrect heavy lifting while the kids stick to flatulence, groin punches, and world-weariness to make Noah seem downright naïve.

Noah is on suspension from college when he is recruited to sit for three eccentric kids; Slater (Max Records), a pubescent, gymnastics-viewing, just emerging gay boy; a kick-butt tween, Blithe (Landry Bender), who finds a few too many hotties, including round Jonah; and a very young, adopted El Salvadoran, Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez), who has a surly attitude and a penchant for explosives. The evening, to which one must "make love," or so one of their street friends rhapsodizes, has episodes that mostly allow fledgling writers Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanakato to indulge their fascination for f bombs and stereotypes that mostly hover around or in street gangs.

There is little logic to the sequences that involve oral sex, cocaine, and nightclub naughtiness, none of which the children should be exposed to but which the tubby Noah justifies in platitudes about their need to see the world. As in Bad Santa, the irreverence is amusing and probably filmed not in the presence of the kids.

What saves the film from oblivion is Slater's coming out and Noah's gentle encouragement for Slater to be who he is. It's refreshing to hear the discussion about a young person and to respect his orientation in a film generally without respect for much of anything.

The gang is rife with caricature and cliché, especially when it eventually decides whether or not to help Jonah out of his difficulty with drug dealer Karl (a leather-clad, gold-chained Sam Rockwell). The language and mannerisms of the gang are egregiously stereotyped. But then so is schlubby Noah, a fat boy hero in a fat boy comedy.

You know what this movie is about and I'm not going to go there. What I will tell you is that the movie is better than 5.5/10 it's got now, you just need to watch it relaxed, don't expect it to be a masterpiece, take it as a fun, comedy flick which exaggerates, but not the Rob Schneider kind of way, his movies are painful to watch, this one is simply entertaining. But what about the flaws you say? Oh, it's got many, probably too many to list, but now that I've watched it, I probably couldn't name you three but I could describe you three scenes I laughed most at.

Is it harsh to rate kids' performances? Anyway, they were not at all bad, in my opinion, they were better than that kid in high-praised Hugo.