The Baby-Sitters Club (film)

The Baby-Sitters Club is a 1995 American comedy-drama film directed by Melanie Mayron, in her feature film directorial debut. It is based on Ann M. Martin's novel series of the same name and is about one summer in the girls' lives in the fictional town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. The film was shot in the California cities of Los Angeles, Altadena, and Santa Clarita.

The Baby-Sitters Club
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMelanie Mayron
Produced byPeter O. Almond
Jane Startz
Marc Abraham
Thomas Bliss
Written byDalene Young
Based onThe Baby-Sitters Club
by Ann M. Martin
Starring
Music byDavid Michael Frank
CinematographyWilly Kurant
Edited byChristopher Greenbury
Production
company
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • August 18, 1995 (1995-08-18)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6.5 million[1]
Box office$9.6 million[2]

Plot

Kristy Thomas, president of "The Baby-Sitters Club", decides to open a day camp for their clients. Her best friend, Mary Anne Spier, along with Mary Anne's stepsister Dawn Schafer, offer their parents' backyard to serve as the campsite. All of the club members (Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Dawn Schafer, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, Mallory Pike, and Jessi Ramsey) vow to keep a close eye on the kids.

Meanwhile, Kristy faces problems when she meets her estranged father (who abandoned her family seven years ago and started a new family in California), and faces a dilemma about telling her friends and family about this. Mary Anne is the only one she tells, and she too is under pressure as the curiosity of her friends grows.

Claudia is forced to attend summer school because she failed science. Kristy promises to help Claudia study but, because she is seeing her father, she fails to keep her promise. Later on, the members of The Baby-Sitters Club, along with some of their clients, perform a rap song for Claudia who has to take a test; if she fails the test she would have to repeat the eighth grade and drop out of the club.

Stacey has a crush on a 17-year-old boy named Luca. As their relationship ensues, she faces problems telling him about her diabetes, and later, her age. This is revealed after a trip to a New York City club, in which a bouncer does not allow her into a club because she is underage. Luca is outraged, unable to believe that Stacey is 13 years old.

Meanwhile, Dawn must face her neighbor, Mrs. Haberman, who becomes increasingly upset because of the camp activities that are taking place next door.

Kristy's 13th birthday comes and she has arranged to go to an amusement park with her father. Promising her friends she would make it to her own party, Kristy goes to meet her father, but he does not show up. She begins to walk home until her friends show up in Luca's car after Mary Anne tells them that Kristy's father came back.

Luca drives the girls back to Mallory's parents' cabin and present Kristy with a half-melted birthday cake. As Stacey is saying goodbye to Luca, he tells her that he will be coming to Stoneybrook again next year. Delighted, Stacey tells him that she will be 14 years old when he returns. They share a kiss just before Luca departs.

In return for making Mrs. Haberman's summer miserable, the girls give the greenhouse to her. Meanwhile, Kristy witnesses a miracle when Jackie Rodowsky hits his first home run, hitting Cokie Mason, who is sitting in a tree nearby, in the process.

Cast

Reception

Box office

The Baby-Sitters Club was one of two nationwide theatrical releases on the weekend of August 18, 1995. It suffered a disappointing debut, opening in ninth place with $3 million, which placed it behind Mortal Kombat. The total domestic gross was $9.6 million.[2]

Critical response

The film received mostly positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 67% based on 15 reviews with an average rating of 6.23/10.[3] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B+" on scale of A to F.[4]

Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times gave the film 4.5 out of 5 calling it "A beautiful film that possesses the power to enchant all ages."[5] Hal Hinson of The Washington Post called the film "A colorful, buoyant, loving tribute to the notion of girlfriends forever."[6] Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle gave the film 2/4 and was critical of the film saying "85 minutes doesn't provide an adequate format for developing seven distinct characters."[7][8]

Soundtrack
The Baby-Sitters Club: Music from the Motion Picture
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedAugust 8, 1995 (1995-08-08)
GenrePop rock[9]
Length32:49[9]
LabelSony Wonder/Columbia Records[10]
ProducerCaulfields, Caulfields, Mike Denneen, Jermaine Dupri, David Michael Frank, Richard Gottehrer, Jeffrey Lesser, Paul McKercher, James McVay, Kevin Moloney, Brendan O'Brien, G. Marq Roswell, David Russo, Manuel Seal, Jr., Todd Smallwood, Brad Wood[11]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]

The Baby-Sitters Club: Music from the Motion Picture is a soundtrack that was released on August 8, 1995.[9]

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Summertime"Moonpools & Caterpillars2:50
2."Say It"Clouds2:11
3."Hannah, I Locked You Out"The Caulfields3:13
4."Let Me Know"Xscape3:42
5."Hold On"Sun 604:40
6."Everything Changes"Matthew Sweet3:50
7."Don't Leave"Ben Lee1:59
8."Step Back"Letters to Cleo2:34
9."Daddy's Girl"Lisa Harlow Stark3:54
10."Girl-Girlfriend"BSC3:56
Total length:32:49
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References
  1. Cox, Dan (23 January 1995). "Scholastic Makes The Grade In H'wood".
  2. "The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)". Box Office Mojo. 1995-09-19. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  3. "The Baby-Sitters Club (1995)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  4. "Cinemascore". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20.
  5. Thomas, Kevin (August 18, 1995). "Movie Review : 'Baby-Sitters': 7 Lovely Girls Show Grace Under Pressure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  6. Hinson, Hal (August 19, 1995). "The Baby-Sitters Club (PG)". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  7. Guthmann, Edward (August 18, 1995). "Film Review -- `Sitters' Is Clumsy But Sweet". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  8. James, Caryn (August 18, 1995). "The Baby Sitter s Club (1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  9. "Baby-Sitters Club - Original Soundtrack - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  10. "The Baby-Sitters Club: Music From The Motion Picture". 8 August 1995 – via Amazon.
  11. "Baby-Sitters Club - Original Soundtrack - Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
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