For the second time in 2012, the pre-release advertising for a comedy has left me baffled.
The trailer for the Sitter gives the impression that Jonah Hill's character is a feckless drug taker and the poster would lead anyone to believe that naked women are part of the plot.
Neither is true. Noah Griffith (Hill) is a lazy college drop-out but seems as naive about drugs as the three kids he is looking after.
There are no naked women in the entire film.
This reminded me of Goon and how I was expecting a poor man's Dumb and Dumber. In fact, Seann William Scott plays a rather kind-hearted soul who just happens to be able to throw a punch.
Here, circumstance rather than his own design, lead Noah, who is of similarly good nature, to the wrong side of the tracks.
Indeed, he wouldn't be babysitting at all if he wasn't trying to make his divorced mum (Jessica Hecht) happy (she has a rare date).
By the way, if you were wondering whether it can it be possible that Jessica (Susan from Friends) could be old enough to be Jonah Hill's mum, the answer is yes.
Anyway, back to the plot... Noah babysits to help his mum out of a jam but his three charges turn out to be 'a challenge.'
In addition, his problems are exacerbated when his manipulative girlfriend (Ari Graynor) calls him up to get her some drugs in exchange for sex.
He reluctantly agrees and takes the kids on a ride which leads to a string of fraught adventures.
The kids (Max Record, Landry Bender and Kevin Hernandez) are the key to The Sitter's comedy. Record does deadpan, Bender is cookie and Hernandez plain weird, with cuteness and expert timing.
Mention should also be made of Sam Rockwell. His reputation for quality is enhanced with this role as a manic drug dealer.
The Sitter is a film of chortles rather than laugh out loud moments.
It is far from brilliant but, thankfully, it is better than Pineapple Express and Your Highness, the truly ghastly movies previously directed by David Gordon Green (how do you get another commission after those two howlers?).
Laughs: Two out loud, but a fair few sniggers
Jumps: Two
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10
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