Released in 1995, “The Baby-Sitters Club” was directed by Melanie Mayron and based on Ann M. Martin’s hyper successful novel series of the same name. Set in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut, the story follows the lives of seven friends over the course of a single summer.
“We’re more than just a club, we’re best friends.” Kristy (Schuyler Fisk) narrates at the start. “Nothing could change that.” The exposition is for those of us that are ignorant to the premise. A group of friends run a babysitting operation in their suburban town. The task of babysitting itself takes a backseat to showcase the various issues the sitter’s deal with in their respective lives. Kristy is the founder and president of said club. She initiates a summer camp for the babysitting clients which will be operated by her and her friends.
Claudia (Tricia Joe) flunked a class and needs to pass summer school to stay a member. Stacey (Bre Blair) lies about her age to impress Luca (Christian Oliver) the cousin of one of her charges. Popular girl Cokie Mason (Marla Sokoloff) spends the summer scheming against the sitters. Ellen Burstyn plays Mrs. Haberman, a cantankerous neighbor whose tranquility is disrupted by the summer camp. Kristy is dealing with the return of her deadbeat father (Peter Horton) which only her best friend Mary Anne (Rachael Leigh Cook) knows about.
A bit far-fetched
Authenticity goes out the window with this. The sitters are roughly 13 years old and have near mafia control over the town with their babysitting racket. It’s ludicrous to think parents would leave their small kids at a summer camp run by adolescents with no adult supervision. It’s literally absurd. And a bit cringy when 17-year-old Luca takes Stacey to a 16 and over club only to discover she has been lying about her age. Spoiler – he then kisses her and advises he will be back next summer when he is 18 and she is 14. Um, I’m not sure that makes it better but okay.
Not to be a crab. I understand the story is for fun and despite the flaws, I watched it from start to finish with rapt fascination. I was reminded of my own childhood in the Castle States neighborhood of New Hartford. My friends and I charged neighbors for Haunted Hayrides and Paid Games of wiffleball. So, I do have admiration for the creativity of the club.
From Pages to Screen
I saw the pitfalls of transferring a book series into a 90-minute movie. The seven members of the club are too thinly touched on for any real development. I would like to see a series devoted to following each one around. Then I discovered there is one such series and put it in my Netflix queue for an upcoming watch.
“The Baby-Sitters Club” is nothing but fun. Kids in the summer of 1995, talking, playing, undistracted by cell phones. It’s not going to rival other teen films of the era, but you’ll certainly enjoy it with a smile and a pang of nostalgia.
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