The task was simple for three males (Joe Mantegna, Joe Pantoliano, Brian Haley) posing as a photography team to nab a rich couple’s baby – and they do initially, but as we all know baby’s know a lot better.
Patrick Read Johnson’s BABY’S DAY OUT, which was produced by the late John Hughes as a follow-up to his blockbuster 1991 hit HOME ALONE with Macaulay Culkin, is effectively watching a live action Wile E Coyote or Ton and Jerry cartoon spread over around ninety-nine minutes. The surprising thing, according to research, is that it didn’t enjoy the same level of success as the earlier film, but found its’ audience in international markets, probably because the film was more easier to embrace than in the American market.
It’s actually a very funny film at times, not least in that you know that something as straightforward as looking after a baby, as you parents out there will know, is never straightforward. Comedian Billy Connolly noted this in one of his stand-up performances that babies do the complete opposite.
For our little hero Bink, he is simply taking the tour as outlined in his favourite book BABY’S DAY OUT, without any consideration or consequence for the others who are keen to look after him.
This proves even more impossible for the kidnappers, who along the way follow him on a bus and into a zoo, where he crawls into a gorilla’s cage (first belly-achingly funny moment!) and then as they almost grab him in a park, they hide him under one of the kidnappers’ coats whilst all three sit on a bench, only for the baby to start playing with his lighter under the clothing (second belly-achingly funny moment!).
Couple that with the final funny moment on a building site and you have a very enjoyable and diverting family movie that has grown in status since its’ initial release thanks to alternate viewing experiences.