Babysitter... un thriller

Yes, this movie is quite out of the ordinary, but worth a look anyway. As usual, Alicia Silverstone is in top form, this time playing an object of desire, and a feature of many fantasies to various men. Unfortunately, there is one off-putting scene where Alicia's character kisses the putrid J.T Walsh.

Supposedly "steamy" thriller is adapted by director Guy Ferland from the story by Robert Coover. It basically functions as a vehicle for then up and comer Alicia Silverstone, cast as the title character. She's a high school student sitting for middle aged couple Harry and Dolly Tucker (J.T. Walsh and Lee Garlington), who have three kids. She inspires fantasies in not only the lecherous, drunken Harry but her estranged boyfriend Jack (Jeremy London) and his shady associate Mark (Nicky Katt). Even her male charge Jimmy (Ryan Slater, Christians' kid brother) gets in on the act.

This should have made for a more watchable experience, but it fails to be all that interesting, whether it follows the activities of the aimless youth or the weary older generation. There are so many fantasy sequences that viewers may feel challenged to keep track of when the film is actually showing "reality". Also, people may feel cheated that Silverstone isn't showcased to sexier effect. Apparently, she wouldn't do this film until the nude scenes were cut. Adding to that problem is the fact that her character (not to mention most of the characters here) just isn't that compelling.

This impressive cast certainly has worked with better material. One does feel embarrassed for the late, great Walsh. Garlington has a somewhat meaty role as his wife who is despondent over not being more desirable to her worthless husband. George Segal and Lois Chiles, as their friends throwing the party that they attend, have precious little to do. Too much time is spent with London and the amusingly smarmy Katt as they prowl around the Tucker home, and it takes the film too long to get going.

Fans wanting a Silverstone fix would be better off revisiting "Clueless" or even "The Crush".

Six out of 10.

Alicia Silverstone is so pretty, so good, I hope she gets some decent material someday. This film wasn't very good. Miss Silverstone was good, but the film could have really used some more exposure (wink, nod). At least she did spend a fair part of the movie in a bubble bath, but she seemed to have a flesh-colored towel in there when she was moving very much. I will have to give some credit to J. T. Walsh and Lee Garlington as the Tuckers. It was fairly fun to watch them get more and more hammered at the party. I've heard that drunkenness is difficult for an actor, but these two made it quite believable. Overall, this film is of interest only to Silverstone fans, (real ones, because she does NO nude scenes here) Grade: D

"The Babysitter" is a bizarre, repetitive and often campy turkey. Most of the film consists of endless fantasy sequences that are never as steamy as they are supposed to be. A fine cast is totally wasted, especially George Segal, whose role couldn't be more pointless. This movie was misconceived all along and is worth watching only if you're curious.... (*1/2)

Well how can I put this...? Shall I pretend I didn't invest 90 minutes of my life in the hope of seeing a less-than-scantily-clad Alicia Silverstone? Shall I claim to be interested in the acting, the music and the photography of the film? Well I don't think anyone would believe me if I did, and furthermore I think I would be branded a bigger fool if I did. This film is awful!!!!! Hundreds of people on rolling rolling credits have contributed to make a piece of celluloid that's success is based on a single assumption - that 'guys wanna see that bird from CLUELESS naked'! As one of those guys who connected the words Alicia and 'contains sex scenes' to make an afternoon's viewing, I have to warn anyone else that feels they should do the same. If AMERICAN BEAUTY had a less-successful younger brother, then this would be it. Poor acting, a dire script, and an ending which makes you wonder whether alien abduction really does exist (did I miss something??) combine to make a truly awful movie. The flashbacks are cringe-worthy, and my only sense of satisfaction was to see JT Walsh actually smile, although I bet his skies have never been as dark as this!

Still, at least there was the lovely Miss Silverstone in her 18-certificate movie! But wait a minute - have I not watched the entire film to see no nudity whatsoever??? Oh wait, there was a brief flash of a waitress getting her just desserts from Mark - a cheap and cheerful way of getting that one clause which will continue to sell this movie - WARNING: contains nudity! Hur-flippin'-rah!