Career Opportunities (1991)

Memorable, crazy movie

How sad is this?

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Career Opportunities was the 1st movie I've seen with Frank Whaley & I've been a longtime fan of his ever since.I will watch any movie with him in it because of Career Opportunities.Career Opportunities is a great movie & 1 of my all time favorites.I saw it shortly after it 1st came out on cable TV & I instantly enjoyed it.Who wouldn't love to be locked in a store all night long by yourself or (Maybe) with somebody else & be able to do whatever you wanted.Eating off the shelves, playing with toys, riding bikes around the store, setting up your own in-store living room & playing video games or watching movies, etc, etc, etc. I have it on DVD, VHS & anytime it comes on 1 of the movie channels, I watch it if nothing else is on.It was a GREAT movie when Jim & Josie were by themselves but loses steam after the burglars show up.It's a bit disappointing but no matter what, I'd tell ANYBODY & EVERYBODY if they're thinking of watching Career Opportunities to check it out.In my opinion, this movie is a classic

A Hugues movie about a cool boy secluded in a empty place and who faces burglars ? So it's as much « Home Alone » than « career opportunities ». If the former is for kids (and adults who remains kids), this one is for teens or young adults as it's about getting a job and making own life. The way he manages his life and how Jen manages her is really accurate and interesting as we have feelings about two different attitudes ! Next, this movie is a real pleasure for me as i have always the fantasy to spend a night alone in a mall (see also « where the heart is » with Nathalie Portman). In addition, it looks like the Twin Pines Mall from another masterpiece in American coming of age (« back to the future »). So, maybe the one who is looking for a crude, funny comedy will be disappointed but the one looking for growing up in small town, USA will be happy. That's my case and it's probably Jen's best movie at this moment of life !

Frank Whaley and a few other overlooked ones the Hughes-package (aka Brat Pack) land roles here with emerging stars the Mulroney Bros. The film has the classic Hughes devices of the solitary character posed before a background of merchandise or amusing themselves with objects that are actually merchandise of functional objects. Whatever happened to Leggs and dancing in the CD aisles? The music is reflective of the transitioning period of the late 1980's and early 1990's where hard rock, "synth pop" and alternative rock were duking it out on the charts. If you're lost on the placement of the story--in typical Hughes (R.I.P.) Midwest territories, or the aesthetics, the subtle and smooth-flowing moral lessons are easily missed (am I the only one who sees similar casting among the many leading young women in the Hughes films--Moore, Connelly, Sara?). Generally, Hughes films are about revealing the common ties among individuals who live in distinctly different social and economic strata where conflict resolves into a solidarity.I find it interesting that I watched this AFTER watching a modern "living as a boy, who is old enough to live like a man" film titled, "Failure To Launch," an attempt to close the chapter on the pandemic of young "adults" returning to the nest, while this film seemed to signal the start of the pandemic. A few unique cases here or there, then by the mid-1990's, we saw the 30-year old "men" trailing behind their mothers to grocery stores or other chores. My other perspective on the content of this film.

Finally! We get a film, taking place mostly inside a store. One of my favorite settings in a film. This one takes place in "Target", which, believe it or not was around in 1991. I know some people might know that, but thats news to me.The film is about Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley) a typical slacker who applies for a well-paying job, but instead gets to work as the night clean-up boy in Target. On his first shift, his trainer leaves him in a locked store with all the lights off. He says he will come back to unlock the door at 7 AM. Jim, unwillingly, turns all the lights back on and finishes his duties early then plans to slack around till dawn.He meets Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly) a run away girl and typical "spoiled rich girl", who purposely stayed in the store after closing. They then get to know each other, and have some fun while being locked in the store. Till they discover a criminal duo (Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney) have broken into the store holding the teens hostages. But the tables have really turned.The dialogue in this movie, like most John Hughes Comedies, are funny memorable and quotable lines not used often in current films. Not to mention 80s and 90s morals rarely seen in movies that meet the needs of today's standards."Career Opportunities" was a very overlooked movie when released in theaters. It had minimal commercials, plus with known blockbuster competitors like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II", "Silence of the Lambs", and "Dances With Wolves" we can see why it did poorly. It's rarely spoken about, and only seen in the five dollar bin. Thats the last place it needs to be.Starring: Frank Whaley, Jennifer Connelly, Dermot Mulroney, and, Kieran Mulroney. Directed by: Bryan Gordon.