Baby-Sitters Club, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +3 1/2

Taken from a very popular book series, THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB is uniquely designed for girls. The story tells the adventures of seven young girls, ages 11 to 13, who decide to sponsor a baby sitting camp one summer in a small town. The leader of the group is 13 year old Kristy (Schuyler Fisk) and her six cohorts are Stacey, Mary Anne, Dawn, Claudia, Mallory, and Jessie (Bre Blair, Rachael Cook, Larisa Oleynik, Tricia Joe, Stacey Ramsower, and Zelda Harris). They manage to sign up a number of youngsters for the camp and arrange all sorts of fun activities for them. Things go along pretty well until Kristy gets distracted when her divorced dad returns to town. Then Stacey falls for a suave 17 year old boy from Europe. In the final analysis, the movie becomes a story of the emotional upheavals of all the girls . One thing for sure, though, the girls remain close friends and stick together through thick and thin. Acting by the girls is somewhat amateurish and the movie loses its momentum at times, but it has plenty of ingredients which will appeal to young girls.

It's certainly refreshing to see a movie like this one with some decent, caring girls who are not obsessed with sex and drugs. They even get along with their parents who are loving and understanding. In conducting their camp, though, the girls allow the kids to thoroughly irritate the older lady who lives next door. Even so, they eventually make their amends and become good friends with her. Not surprising, they have their antagonists in the form of three snooty, jealous girls who harass them constantly. Even their relationship with them eventually improves, although the rival girls suffer some indignities from the kids. Although Mary Anne and Stacey have boy friends, they don't become sexually involved and no sexually suggestive remarks or innuendos are exchanged. Except for one mild slang term for sex, the conversations are free from offensive language. Positive messages of family love and loyalty come across clearly and the girls learn the importance of being friends forever. Take or send your daughters to see this one

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232