Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a 1991 American coming-of-age black comedy film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Christina Applegate, Joanna Cassidy, Josh Charles and David Duchovny. The plot focuses on seventeen-year-old Sue Ellen Crandell, who assumes the role as head of the house for her siblings when the babysitter her mother hired suddenly dies in her sleep. Although only a moderate success theatrically, the film later achieved a cult following on VHS and cable television.
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead was released in theaters on June 7, 1991, and grossed $25.1 million on a budget of $10 million. It received generally negative reviews from critics.
==Plot==
Sue Ellen Crandell (Christina Applegate) is a 17-year-old high school graduate in Los Angeles who, due to a lack of funds, cannot go to Europe for the summer with her friends. She is about to head to college in the fall. However, when her divorced mother (Concetta Tomei) goes on a vacation to Australia with her boyfriend, Sue Ellen looks forward to an entire summer of freedom with her siblings: twin slacker and stoner Kenny (Keith Coogan), 14-year-old ladies' man Zach (Christopher Pettiet), 13-year-old tomboy Melissa (Danielle Harris), and 11-year-old television fanatic Walter (Robert Hy Gorman). Much to Sue Ellen's dismay, her mother hires a live-in babysitter, Mrs. Sturak (Eda Reiss Merin), a seemingly sweet, humble old woman who assures Mrs. Crandell that she can take care of all five children. As soon as Mrs. Crandell leaves, Mrs. Sturak shows her true colors as an evil tyrant, quickly drawing the ire of the children. However, she soon dies of a heart attack. After her body is discovered by Sue Ellen, the children agree to stuff the babysitter in a trunk and drop her off at a local funeral home and keep her car. They discover that the envelope given to Mrs. Sturak by their mother with their summer money is empty; she had it on her when they delivered her body to the funeral home.
With no money to pay the family's bills, Sue Ellen finds work at a fast food restaurant called Clown Dog. Despite a budding relationship with her co-worker named Bryan (Josh Charles), she quits because of the obnoxious manager. Sue Ellen then forges an extensive résumé under the guise of a Vassar-educated young fashion designer and applies at General Apparel West (GAW), hoping to secure a job as a receptionist. However, Rose Lindsey (Joanna Cassidy), a company executive, finds her résumé so impressive that she offers Sue Ellen a job as an executive assistant, much to the chagrin of Carolyn (Jayne Brook), a receptionist on Rose's floor who was initially in line for the job. While the kids have dinner at a Chuck E. Cheese's that night, Mrs. Sturak's car is stolen by drag queens, forcing Sue Ellen to call in a favor from Bryan to bring them home. Sue Ellen then obtains the keys to her mother's Volvo, and begins stealing from petty cash at GAW to support the family, intending to return it when she receives her paycheck. However, Sue Ellen is furious to discover that her siblings have stolen most of the petty cash funds to buy extravagant gifts; Zach purchases a diamond ring for his girlfriend Cynthia, and Walter orders a state-of-the-art home entertainment center for the house.
At work, the inexperienced Sue Ellen has to balance the adult responsibilities thrust upon her while still trying to enjoy herself as a teenager. The double life strains her relationship with Bryan when she discovers that he and Carolyn are brother and sister. Furthermore, resentful of Sue Ellen's promotion, Carolyn and her coworker Bruce (David Duchovny) repeatedly try to discredit her accomplishments — even going so far as to make a copy of Sue Ellen's driver's license to prove she is only a teenager — but Rose views the efforts as nothing more than petty jealousy on Carolyn's part. On top of it all, Sue Ellen has to rebuff the frequent sexual advances of Rose's philandering boyfriend, Gus (John Getz), who also works with the company.
When she learns that GAW is in danger of going out of business, Sue Ellen takes it upon herself to create a new clothing line, and Rose suggests holding a fashion show to exhibit their new designs. With no petty cash left to rent a banquet hall, Sue Ellen offers to host the party, convincing her siblings to help clean up the house, beautify the yard, and act as caterers. Although she manages to pull off the party, it comes to an end when Mrs. Crandell comes home early and catches Sue Ellen in the act, forcing her to confess her lie in front of everyone. While apologizing to Rose after the party, Sue Ellen learns that her unique designs had saved GAW. Rose offers Sue Ellen the job as her personal assistant, which she respectfully declines in favor of going to college first. Rose tells Sue Ellen that she can "pull some strings" to get her in to Vassar and they make plans to get together for dinner.
Sue Ellen and Bryan make up, but are soon interrupted by Mrs. Crandell, who inquires about Mrs. Sturak's whereabouts. As the credits roll, the scene cuts away to the cemetery, where two morticians look over a gravestone that reads "Nice Old Lady Inside, Died of Natural Causes." 
==Cast==
*Christina Applegate as Sue Ellen Crandell
*Joanna Cassidy as Rose Lindsey
*John Getz as Gus Brandon
*Keith Coogan as Kenny Crandell
*Josh Charles as Bryan
*Concetta Tomei as Mrs. Crandell
*David Duchovny as Bruce
*Kimmy Robertson as Cathy Henderson
*Jayne Brook as Carolyn
*Eda Reiss Merin as Mrs. Sturak
*Robert Hy Gorman as Walter Crandell
*Danielle Harris as Melissa Crandell
*Christopher Pettiet as Zach Crandell
*Jeff Bollow as Mole
*Michael Kopelow as Hellhound
*Dan Castellaneta (voice) as Animated Mrs. Sturak
==Trailer==
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Category:1991 films
Category:American films
Category:English-language films
Category:Comedy films
Category:Comedy
Category:Warner Bros. films
Category:HBO Films films
Category:Rated PG-13