CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

1991 / Director. Bryan Gordon. 
Review by Glenn Cochrane

When it comes to the John Hughes teen comedies CAREER OPPORTUNITIES is one of the lesser know, or at least is one of the more poorly received. Made in 1991 I believe that it was the last of his teen orientated films, having given way to his more slapstick brand of family movies, which he focused on throughout the 90s. It stars Frank Whaley as a 21 year old dreamer who can't hold down a job. He's known as the town liar because of his annoying persistence in fabricating stories about himself. His father secures him a new job at Target as a night cleaner and the entire film takes place inside the department store where he cures his boredom with stupid antics. A few hours into his first shift he discovers a girl (Jennifer Connelly) locked inside with him. Together they rollerskate, eat junk food and pretty much trash the store. The entire film's premise is more or less two brats confined and then bonding. In many ways it plays out like THE BREAKFAST CLUB with personal information being traded and home-truths being revealed. I like the movie a lot and think that it's been unfairly judged over the years. It's a welcome addition to Hughes's catalogue and would probably fare better if it wasn't standing in the shadows of bigger films like BREAKFAST CLUB and FERRIS BEULLER'S DAY OFF. The film does get a little stupid with the introduction of two bumbling robbers but at the core is a sweet and understated story with good performances and amusing (occasionally hilarious) antics. There are some great cameos also from people like John Candy, William Forsythe & Dermott Mulroney. I recently revisited the movie and found myself enjoying it more than I did the previous time. That makes it a grower in my books and proves it to be an endearing final entry into a renowned period of filmmaking for a comedy legend. 

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