The Sitter

Given his C.V. to that point director David Gordon Green surprised everyone when he helmed the slacker comedy, Pineapple Express (2008).  After the backwoods lyricism of George Washington (2000) and All The Real Girls (2003) it was a radical shift to the popcorn end of the film spectrum. But at least it was a likeable-enough comedy,  The same can’t be said of The Sitter which is in essence a reboot of Geg Mottola's Superbad (2007) but with more vulgarity and a lot less charm  

Jonah Hill is back as Noah Griffith an overweight slacker who agrees to score some drugs for his nearly-girlfriend Marisa (Ari Graynor) In the hope that she will allow full penetration. But he has agreed to baby-sit a trio of snotty kids and decides to take them along on what turns out to be a wild ride through New York's party scene.  

The only reason anyone would watch this film is for Jonah Hill and in that respect he delivers the only comedic value the film has, essentially being a somewhat older version of Superbad’s potty-mouthed, but ultimately endearing, Seth.  But everything else about the film is lame. Trying to make a raunchy comedy when you’ve got three pre-teen kids to work with isn’t a good idea and when its part of a try-hard re-hash of fa genuinely funny film it is an even worse one. The only notably inventive aspect is the strange body-building program going on in the premises of Marisa’s drug dealer friend, Karl (Sam Rockwell). But nothing of any substance comes of this with Rockwell simply re-iterating for the umpteenth time his violent wacky persona. All up, The Sitter reflects well on no-one involved.

 

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