Career Opportunities [DVD]

Product Description

The town con and the town beauty team up to outwit a half-wit pair of would-be burglars in this hilarious new comedy from John Hughes. Frank Whaley stars as Jim Dodge, a smooth-talking small-town guy with a knack for putting up a front -but no talent for holding down a job. But Jim’s life suddenly takes a turn for the fantastic when he finds himself locked inside the local department store one night with Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly), the daughter of the town’s wealthiest citizen. And when this unlikely pair is treated to a surprise visit from two bargain-hunting burglars (Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney), the laughs keep escalating in this delightfully entertaining look at small-town America.

Bonus Content:

Production Notes
Cast and Filmmakers
Theatrical Trailer

Amazon.com

If you’re a lifetime member of the Jennifer Connelly fan club, you’ll be in the passionate minority of people (100% male) who won’t care that this 1991 comedy is wallowing in its own oily puddle of lameness. The gorgeous Ms. Connelly is conspicuously put on display in this typically lightweight fluff from writer-producer John Hughes. Frank Whaley does his best to liven up the male-fantasy plot about a semi-nerdy teen who gets a night-watchman job in a variety store, only to find himself locked in overnight with the local knockout (Connelly), who’s as rich as she is beautiful. She’s also really unhappy with her home life and her bully boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney), so it’s Frank’s big opportunity to make his move as a sympathetic Romeo. Shallow and contrived, the movie does have its standard moments of John Hughes delicacy, and a cameo by the late John Candy scores bonus points for comedy. Still, it’s clear that the movie exists primarily to satisfy adolescent lust–and with Connelly as the object of desire, this otherwise tiresome comedy is a triumph of wish-fulfillment casting.
–Jeff Shannon