DEFENDING ‘BABYSITTING’

As a screenwriter whose work is in the same genre of broad comedy as “Adventures in Babysitting,” I believe the critics have been extremely unfair to this film, both in their attacks on the script and in their charges of racism and sexism (Outtakes, by Patrick Goldstein, July 5).

Yet one more writer-basher, Michael Wilmington, thought that the “logic” of the script is “loose,” filled with “gaps” and “exaggeration” (movie review, July 1). I remind him that broad comedy is supposed to be broad . Like all farce, the genre works in a world of hyperbole, a world of comic probabilities which are unrealistic exaggerations of natural laws. Exaggerated mishaps are signs that what we are watching is a comedy--not realistic drama--whether in the style of the “Pink Panther” series or “Silver Streak.” David Simkins’ script is first-rate, especially strong in turning its story in delightful, charming ways, and in its structure of escalating crises.

The charges of racism are totally unfounded. Only ultra-liberal, journalistic paranoia could lose the humor of the blues scene--white suburban kids singing in a black blues bar--and invent a distorted charge of “a simple, vaguely racist theme” (Detroit Free Press).

Nit-picking, racial paranoia is itself a form of distortion and misrepresentation, highly immoral. Not only is it self-confirming, this kind of paranoia has no sense of humor and now passes for film criticism.

Shame on you journalistic name-callers. Grow up. Find yourselves a good psychoanalyst. Or, maybe what you need is a good baby-sitter.

ROBERT KIRSCHTEN

West Hollywood