Ahead of the Thor Curve - #3: Adventures in Babysitting

Marvel Comics may have been at its nadir in 1987 when our third film, Adventures in Babysitting, was released.  For those of you who haven't seen this film (i.e. the mentally ill, impoverished, or neglected), the Marvel character Thor, currently starring in billion-dollar grossing blockbusters released by Disney, is the hero of one character, the little spitfire Sara. Can you imagine any studio fronting the surely onerous licensing costs to add Thor into a film as a minor character detail and deus ex machina subplot today?

To give you an idea of how low on the pop culture radar screen Marvel was around this time, check out this scene from the horrifically terrific 1990 film starring Thor's fellow Avenger, Captain America:

Yes, the Red Skull is randomly Italian in this movie. Yes, Captain America is played by J.D. Salinger's son, Matt (what?). Yes, this movie was so bad it was shelved for direct-to-video release in 1992, mainly so that I could rent it on a semi-weekly basis. But, I digress.

Adventures in Babysitting carries a lot of trademarks of 80's comedies:

1. "Teenagers" played by the likes of 25-years-old-and-dressed-like-a-real-estate-agent Elisabeth Shue (Chris) and 30-years-old-but-looks-like-he-did-on-West-Wing Bradley Whitford (!) as the hunk (!) boyfriend Mike.

2. A refreshing amount of profanity and sexual humor. I can't imagine Christopher Columbus, he of Harry Potter fame, directing a film that drops f-bombs, repeatedly references Playboy magazine, and has one harried character worry about seeing people "shoot up" in the bus station these days. Let's also not forget that "Handsome" John Pruitt, the kindly one-handed tow truck driver, attempts to murder his wife and her lover in the early goings of this family-friendly romp through the mean streets of 1987 Chicago.

3. Really awesome haircuts, such as Keith Coogan's (Brad):

 4. A random scene where all the white characters unknowingly walk into a "black" bar that drops dead silent. I swear this happens in 85% of 80's comedies, as an homage to Animal House. By the way, Albert Collins, the Master of the Telecaster (which is his nickname, I swear, I looked it up!) truly does rock and also has awesome hair:

5. A random scene where a full band plays for the frat party. I wasn't in a frat but does this really happen? If so, why did I not join a frat?

6. Anthony Rapp. OK, so this isn't really a hallmark of 80's comedies. But still. It's pretty crazy that the Broadway star is in this as a sex-crazed teenaged ne'er-do-well. Crazier still that Columbus and he would reunite for the feature film version of Rent in 2005. Nearly 10 years after Rent was cool.

Otherwise, this movie has a Murphy's Law plot, following the misfortunes of a babysitter (Shue) and her charges (Rapp, Coogan, and Maia Brewton) through the Windy City one fateful night. A bunch of crazy stuff happens, including the aforementioned attempted murder, theft of an automobile (someone needs to resurrect Calvin Levels' career!), getting chased by the mob, and poor lovelorn Brad gets a switchblade through the foot. At the end of it all, Shue does an admirable job of pulling a messy house together in the few fleeting moments before the parental units get home.

After repeat viewings, the element of surprise (on which the film heavily relies) is of course non-existent, but it's still a fun, stupid diversion, wrapped in the sweet taste of nostalgia.

I lobbied to pitch it because I really don't think we'll watch this again for a long time. The lady of the house mounted a sterling defense, however, noting: (1) it only cost $5 at Target and (2) our daughter also loves Thor so she will also love this movie some day.

Ultimate verdict, then? KEEPER!

Next on the agenda: a double disc of Air Force One and In the Line of Fire. ACTION!