Growing up Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead was one of my favorite comfort movies. It gave me one of my favorite lines I still say to this day, and showed me if a guy wanted to they would.

The story of Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead revolves around a teenage girl named Sue Ellen Crandell who is left in charge of her siblings for the summer after their babysitter unexpectedly passes away. So, Sue Ellen takes on a job in the fashion industry and navigates the challenges of adulthood while keeping her new responsibilities a secret from her family and new boyfriend.

DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD UPDATED FOR A NEW GENERATION

I don’t hate reboots, remakes, remixes, or whatever you want to call them as long as they’re done well. It’s not always possible for all films to transcend generations and that’s okay. When it comes to the newest Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead the story is updated perfectly to make this odd premise work today.

The new family dynamic pays homage to the original while making it their own. I appreciate that the script still allows each child to have their arc. The one that was always the most important to me was Kenny. While Kenny (Donielle T. Hansley Jr.) and Tanya have their sibling issues he is also on his journey of self-discovery and what it means to be the man that he wants to be.

Simone Joy Jones (Bel-Air) has the tough job of filling Christina Applegate’s shoes and she does an excellent job as Tanya “Sue-Ellen” Crandel. Jones carries the weight of her first lead in a feature film extremely well and I can’t wait to see what she does next. Nicole Richie was the biggest surprise. I loved her rendition of Rose and her chaotic Millenial leadership. When speaking with her, Richie said she could never mimic what was done already. She wanted to make the character her own and characterize her the way teenagers see adults. It’s hilarious and spot-on.

Overall I really enjoyed the reboot of Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitters Dead. Grab the family and friends for a movie night on April 12, 2024 and get ready for a fun time.

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