Last night I happened to stumble across The Babysitters Club movie on tv. Naturally, I had to watch it.
That’s a lie. I didn’t “stumble” across anything. I searched for TBC on Netflix (I’m sure you get what TBC stands for if you were an Ann M. Martin fan) I found it, and then immediately clicked “view.” And as I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch all of Kristy’s so called “friends” turn against her just because she was trying to cover up for her dead-beat dad who happened to pop back up in her life, I was reminded of my summers as a kid when I would go on movie binges late into the night, watching movie after movie, just because I could. I was also reminded that the Babysitters Club movie is surprisingly darker than I remember. I mean Kristy’s dad is a legit psycho. And I’m pretty sure Stacey’s boyfriend is committing statutory rape. I know that’s a strong accusation to just toss out there, but just because he’s from Europe doesn’t mean he can get with a 13 year old American girl. He’s 23 for God’s sake! Or 17. Whatever, same thing.
But that’s neither here nor there. Let’s get back to the point at hand- movies that I used to binge on as a kid after I was tired of playing Nintendo games (such games included but weren’t limited to: Aladdin, Mortal Kombat, and obviously Mario Kart.)
Just a forewarning, many of these movies have probably never been placed on the same list together and probably won’t be ever again. Let’s just say I had a wide array of film interests as a child. Still do, actually.
Overboard.
I went through a heavy Goldie Hawn phase in the 90s. In fact, this list could actually just be all Goldie Hawn movies like HouseSitter, Death Becomes Her, and First Wives Club, just to name a few. But I suppose Overboard was always my fav. Even though I thought the little boys in this movie were absolutely disgusting and the house itself was beyond living conditions, the house makeover part made it all worth it. I get huge jollies off of watching a gross dirty house become clean in a movie. Which brings me to my next movie I used to binge watch….
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead.
When that pool gets cleaned up I could just die. Die die die. And I was certain up until college that my first job in the “real world” would include a petty cash account, lot of reports that I could just pass on to my secretary to do, and wearing big blazer jackets with even bigger shoulder pads. I basically just assumed every real job was exactly like Sue Ellen’s.
Con Air.
Not sure why, but something really resonated with me about this movie full of felons who took over a plane. I think I fell asleep to it every night back in the summer of ’98. It was definitely the first time I fell in love with Steve Buscemi. When he plays Barbies with that little girl in the old pool and then we find out he didn’t harm her after all? Love it. The only thing that would have made this movie better is if they would have given that pool a makeover.
Face Off.
For as much as I loved Goldie Hawn, I loved Nicholas Cage. Add John Travolta to the mix and then let them change faces?! It doesn’t get any better (for a ten-year-old.)
Parent Trap.
New or old. For obvious reasons.
My Father The Hero.
I don’t remember why exactly I loved this movie, but I did. And I also don’t remember why it seemed appropriate to put a teenage Katherine Heigl in a thong swimsuit, but they did….
Beverly Hills Cop III.
Kind of an odd choice for a little girl, I blame this one on my brother. For whatever reason, I’ve seen this movie no less than twenty times. And I still think it’s great. I mean they were making fake money at an amusement park! Genius.
True Lies.
Again, an odd choice I know. But Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t know her husband (Arnold Schwarzenegger) was a secret agent! And when she does that awkward strip tease for him? Now that was humor. *sidenote: Arnold was the first (and only) actor crush I sent fan mail to in an envelope decorated in hearts when I was a kid…
Problem Child.
Because the theme song always got me really jazzed as a kid. And because I really wanted to be Trixie.
Little Monsters.
Scariest movie of my childhood. So of course I had to watch it over and over.
She Devil.
Because even as a kid I sensed it was a rarity to see Meryl and Roseanne on screen together.
Golddiggers.
This is a joke, I never liked this movie. I just wanted to throw it in so we could all laugh at Anna Chlumsky’s bad haircut together.
This list could go on and on and on, I didn’t even touch on my favorite comedies. But I need to wrap it up. Have a favorite from your childhood to add? Let me know!
