Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: 5 kids are left with a babysitter, who, well, expires and they're forced to live on their own.
Biased, pithy comments: Well, ``Party of Five'' it isn't, and it also isn't a particularly zany movie. Most of it has slightly (and only slightly) more subtle absurdity and farce concerning the eldest child (Applegate) entering the workforce through deceit. The title (and the animated title sequence) has little to do with the actual story. For the movie I expected it to be, it was too unfunny and rather heavy-handed despite the eldest son's amicable humor. Applegate showed something approaching acting talent, however, leaving the viewer mostly just baffled how this rather dull ``Working Girl''-wannabe got made, how it got cast, and why the heck the folk making the trailer didn't watch it before they duped teenagers into thinking they were seeing something else.
Other Notes: Fans of ``The X-files'' will notice David Duchovny supporting a supporting actress.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Christina Applegate, Keith Coogan
Directed by: Stephen Herek