Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)
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A teenager must navigate the complexities of adulthood and corporate life after her siblings' babysitter unexpectedly passes away.
The story
Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell is a 17-year-old high school graduate who is left in charge of her four siblings when her mother departs for a vacation in Australia. The children's mother hires a live-in babysitter, Mrs. Sturak, who quickly proves to be a tyrant. After Swell discovers that Mrs. Sturak has died in her sleep, the children decide to hide the body to avoid ruining their summer. To support the family, Swell forges a resume and secures a job as an executive assistant at a fashion company, where she must balance her new adult responsibilities with her life as a teenager.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell, a 17-year-old, is left in charge of her siblings, Kenny, Zach, Melissa, and Walter, while her mother vacations in Australia. Their hired babysitter, Mrs. Sturak, turns out to be a tyrant until she dies in her sleep. To keep their summer plans intact, the children hide her body in a trunk and drop it at a mortuary. Swell takes a job at a fast-food restaurant before forging a resume to become an executive assistant at General Apparel West (GAW). She struggles to balance her work life, where she steals petty cash to support her family, with her personal life, including a strained relationship with her friend Bryan. She faces schemes from a jealous receptionist, Carolyn, and the advances of the philandering Gus Brandon. When GAW faces bankruptcy, Swell organizes a fashion show to save the company. During the event, she exposes Gus's infidelity and is nearly outed as a teenager by Carolyn. However, Rose forgives her deception because the show is a success. Swell eventually declines a permanent job offer to go to college, reconciles with Bryan, and her mother returns home, unaware of the babysitter's fate. The film ends with mortuary workers finding the money on the body and planning a trip to Las Vegas.
- First release year
- 1991
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Stephen Herek
- Writers
- Neil Landau · writer; Tara Ison · writer
- Cast and characters
- Christina Applegate · Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell; Joanna Cassidy · Rose Lindsey; Keith Coogan · Kenny Crandell; John Getz · Gus Brandon; Josh Charles · Bryan; Concetta Tomei · Mrs. Crandell; David Duchovny · Bruce; Jayne Brook · Carolyn
- Genres
- coming-of-age; black comedy
- Themes
- coming-of-age; responsibility; second chances; office politics
- Tone and mood
- black comedy; sassy; wish-fulfilling; ridiculous
- Premise and plot tags
- teen comedy; workplace comedy; family comedy; fashion
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics upon release but developed a cult following on VHS and cable television. It was described as a 'consumerist, escapist fantasy' and 'amusing fluff' by some, while others found it 'surprisingly entertaining and fun'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 35 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled 'The Real World' but was changed due to a conflict with an MTV series.; The film was mentioned in the first episode of the WB animated series Animaniacs.; The film was one of David Duchovny's early roles before he achieved mainstream success.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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