MamaGravity
good back-story, and good acting
SanEat
A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."
Ortiz
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Irishchatter
I seriously thought that this was gonna be a great movie to watch but left me dissapointed instead.I don't know anymore if its the acting or storyline involved here, although I will admit that Frank Whaley's character as Jim really really sucked. The reason for that is, his character is like a woodpecker always nagging your shoulder and won't get away from you. He just would've been better off as playing as a really shy nerd instead of a headache one, it would've made my movie watching experience more easier to manage...Also unfortunately the gorgeous Jennifer Connelly was on this so she got a bad luck outta this too!Waste of time in my opinion on this movie!
clarkejb
Career Opportunities is a film worth a watch for a few key reasons. One reason is because the film is one of the last major projects of the great John Hughes. I wanted to take time out to watch this film recently because I never saw it when it was released back in 1991. I do not think I was ever aware of the film back then. As I watched the film, I asked myself why John Hughes chose to write and produce it. I think John wanted movie goers to explore the question, "How would his teenage characters, from films like "Pretty in Pink," "Sixteen Candles," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and "The Breakfast Club" feel about their lives and their prospects for their future after their high school years are behind them?" The Jim Dodge character is like many memorable characters created by John Hughes: A handsome, witty, fast-talking, and extroverted charlatan. Unlike The popular and successful Ferris Bueller character, Jim Dodge doesn't fool most of the people in his life. People see through his charlatan antics and regard him as a disingenuous liar. Jim Dodge is also from a modest working class family. The Jim Dodge character is as engaging as the Ferris Bueller character, but he is not as funny or as entertaining to watch because his charlatan behavior is unsuccessful. Jim Dodge was not cool in high school, he doesn't have any friends his age, and he doesn't have a gorgeous girlfriend like the Sloane Peterson character from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." I think Hughes wrote the Jim Dodge character to represent the slacker stereotype of Generation X. The Jim Dodge character is in his early 20s, he lives at home, he has few job prospects, and he lacks tangible goals other than a general wish to be credible and successful. The Josie McClellan character is strong-willed female lead who is similar to a lot of other John Hughes characters. Josie is an effortlessly beautiful young woman with a bad attitude. She believes her ideal high school experience means that her best days are behind her. She and Jim Dodge share a tremendous uncertainty about their futures, and they are both loners. Despite Josie's beauty and wealth, she feels as alone as Jim Dodge and she is also a slacker without clear goals. Jim and Josie find each other and bond within strange circumstances in "Career Opportunities." I think the film is really about how these two characters connect as fellow struggling Gen-Xers. I think this movie failed to be a big hit because Hughes offers no clear answers for the Jim and Josie characters other than the idea that falling in love offers hope for both of their futures. The laughs are not frequent enough in the film and the music sequences are too numerous. The title of the film is also misleading. Regardless, this film is definitely worth a watch if you were born between 1966 and 1974.
Uriah43
"Jim Dodge" (Frank Whaley) is an unambitious but very creative young man who can't seem to hold a job because he prefers to live in a fantasy world. Even though he is 21 years-old he still lives with his parents and doesn't really care to move out. One day his father, "Bud Dodge" (John M. Jackson) forces him to get a job at a nearby Target store as the "night cleanup boy". When he reports for his first shift the head custodian locks him in the store and Jim finds himself all alone with a huge area to clean. At least he thinks he's all alone. Meanwhile, a beautiful young woman by the name of "Josie McClellan" (Jennifer Connelly) is having problems with her rich and physically abusive father, "Roger Roy McClellan" (Noble Willingham) so she decides to venture to Target with the intent to embarrass him by getting arrested for shop-lifting. As luck would have it, she falls asleep in the clothing department and wakes up to find Jim skating through the aisles in his underwear. But that's just the beginning of the adventure for both of them. Anyway, rather than disclose what happens next and possibly spoil the picture for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a nice little comedy with a definite 80's flavor. While Frank Whaley was amusing, the main attraction was clearly Jennifer Connelly as she was simply gorgeous. On the other hand, the conversation between the two of them sometimes seemed awkward and forced. Likewise, because this film is so light and breezy there isn't much depth to it at all. All things considered then, I rate this movie as average.
lost-in-limbo
A sweetly charming and rather simple-minded teen movie penned by John Hughes and starring an unforgettably ravishing Jennifer Connelly. Too bad the rest of the film isn't as memorable as the talented Connelly. "Career Opportunities" isn't really a bad film, but just doesn't set itself apart from the crowd with few too little jokes and amusing interactions/situations. The story's structure is quite slight (too so) with the witty script going beyond the comedy at times to delve within serious/complex inner characteristics. Although nothing too detailed, there's some food for thought in its absorbing character driven set-up. However it's the lively performances that do the job. A buoyant Frank Whaley effectively creates a character who lives in his own comfortable world (getting fired from one job after another) and makes a perfect combination with Connelly (who's looking to rebel against her wealthy father's influence). Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney are comically fun, but are rather secondary. John M. Jackson and Noble Willingham are productively good in their snappy father roles. John Candy gets an enjoyable little cameo too. Director Bryan Gordon's controlled style is peculiarly brash, but doesn't have a whole lot to work from. He brings a colourful soundtrack to give the atmosphere its playful air, which the retail company Target gets a fair plug. Just make sure you get that product in shot… and why not test it out too. Likable, but indistinguishable (well definitely not Connelly!).
