I love this movie. There, I said it.
I first saw this at a friend's house when I was about 12, and I instantly fell in love with it - Sue Ellen's clothes, Melissa's ballsy attitude, Kenny and his complete turnaround, Brian, the clown dog driver...it was fantastic.
Sue Ellen Krandall (Christina Applegate) is looking forward to spending a Mom-free summer at the beach when her mother announces that she's going to Australia for a long vacation. Right before her Mom leaves, Sue-Ellen's plans come crashing down around her with the arrival of Mrs. Sterac, the ancient, Uber-strict babysitter. Things aren't looking good----until the babysitter dies, taking with her the money Mrs. Krandall left for the upkeep of the house.
Sue-Ellen quickly realises that in order to take care of herself and her siblings (stoner Kenny, love-sick Zack, mischevious Walter, and tomboy Melissa), she has to get a job, and as a 17-year old with no qualifications, what can she do? Fake it, that's what. She blags her way into a wonderful job at a clothing company, and quickly finds her feet as a personal assistant.
The novelty of being a "working woman" soon wears off as Sue Ellen realises that it's not easy being a career woman and a "Mom" at the same time.
I recently bought this DVD and I was a little dubious about watching it at the age of 26 - would it be as good as I remembered?
I wasn't disappointed. It's one of the few early 90's movies that has stood the test of time- the gags are as funny now as they were back then, Christina Applegate's Sue Ellen Krandall is still one of the most likeable leads in a family movie EVER, and the supporting cast of brothers and sisters are just as funny.
If you haven't seen it, buy it now. It's a little gem.