Career Opportunities is a 1991 comedy written by John Hughes. It is one of the more forgotten John Hughes movies of the 80s and 90s. Mainly because it did nowhere near as well as most of his other stuff and the man himself has tried to distance himself from it over the years.
How to Download Career Opportunities
Career Opportunities was released on 1991. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
To be fair, I think that Career Opportunities is not a horrible movie at all. However, there is no denying that when put up against the likes of The Breakfast Club or Weird Science, it is not at that kind of level. The fact that this starred Jennifer Connelly (also, check her out in Noah, Alita: Battle Angel, or Top Gun: Maverick) made me want to see it during my teenage years as I had a massive crush on her.
Let me tell you, there are many people who will say that Jennifer Connelly and her revealing top are the only reasons to be watching this movie, but I think that is a bit harsh. The story here is about an early 20s guy called Jim who lacks direction in his life, so much so his dad has forced him to take the night janitor position at a Target store. After watching this for the first time in many years, I wonder if Target paid to have their name plastered all over this movie.
A Night in Target
During his first night on the job, where he is locked in until the next morning when the store opens, things take a real turn. Turns out that a young woman called Josie was hiding out in the store after contemplating shoplifting and now she is stuck in here too. Josie is a rich girl with an attitude, but she also has a softer side and is looking to escape from her controlling dad.
Unexpected Romance
Josie and Jim actually know each other and they start to hit it off and have fun as they have this huge store as their playground. In what feels like no time at all, they become romantically involved with each other and plan to run away to LA together! Seriously, this “romance” just happens out of nowhere, but these two do have a connection and Jennifer Connelly and Frank Whaley have good chemistry, this was actually Frank Whaley’s first starring role!
Enter the Crooks
Their dreams of running away to LA are not so smooth as two crooks break into the store to rob it. One of the most fun bits of trivia about Career opportunities is that the two crooks are played by Dermot Mulroney and his real life brother, Kieran Mulroney. I kind of get the impression they were going for a bit of a Harry and Marv thing here with these two, but these guys make Harry and Marv look like the most competent burglars of all time!
Final Thoughts
After watching this again recently I have to say that it is not a bad movie at all. It is a typical 7/10 romantic comedy movie. It is cheesy, harmless and it is kind of fun too. It may lack the magic many other John Hughes movies have, but once you know this was written by him, there are certainly elements of what make us love his work here. Give this one a try if you have never seen it, it is honestly nowhere near as bad as people make out.
