User reviews

This is one of the most flawed movies I've seen in a while. The premise is poor, the character motivations are not clear, there are many logical fallacies in the plot (i.e. the father goes out to an important business meeting with his wife, but instead of sending his wife home to deal with the misbehaving child he leaves his business meeting to return home? Why? The major conflict of the movie is illogical and unrealistic!)

This movie was filmed primarily in someone's house, with lighting that is annoyingly horizontal because of inadequate ceiling room to light from overhead, the acting by the parents is dull and flat. The only actor that has any character sympathy is the young woman playing the 'regular' babysitter, who is under-served in screen time and given no scenes to establish her life outside of interactions with the protagonist.

The 'stunts' are done in a way to avoid any potential danger or lasting damage to the house and come across as so tame that they'd be non-events in real life - the boy microwaves tomato soup in a microwave and makes an easily cleanable mess, fills the sinks with water, and spills some yogurt - and these are the 'horrible things' he does to 'drive away' a babysitter.

This is a very, very low budget attempt at 'rental bait' and an excuse for some SAG scale actors to get tape. There is no vision, there is no passion, and there is no reasonable excuse for this to exist alongside movies like Problem Child and Home Alone. I never once believed that protagonist had conviction or motivation to do the things in the 'plot'. It simply doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense that Danny Trejo would charge $30 an hour to babysit. It doesn't make sense that the mother, who doesn't have a job onscreen or any excuse other than the fact that children have mothers to exist in this film, can't provide care for the child. Lazy, lazy, illogical film.

I'm writing this as a parent so take my quick review with a grain of salt. The boy misbehaves and is very, very disobedient with almost zero consequences. Even my kids were saying "ohhh, he's gonna be in trouble" but he never got in trouble. His bad behavior is brushed aside to move the plot along. I was so frustrated by this movie I wanted the kid to be beaten with a 6' long baseball bat, but instead they reward him with a trip to a baseball game. Great way to teach kids there are no consequences for your bad choices.

I won't spoil anything but watch for some good gags that had the kids laughing. The film is predictable and adult performances were wooden in the beginning but seem to fall into place as the story progresses. Trenton Rogers is believable and sympathetic and of course Rico Rodriguez is great. For that the film accomplished its goal and found its audience - kids. There is a little bit of Alexander and the No Good Terrible Very Bad Day, Our Gang, and a lot of Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" which is not so subtly referenced, tossing the ball and all. Films like this usually have lessons for the kids but this one has a message for the parents too.