John Hughes was on quite the hot streak coming out of the 1980s and reached arguably the apex of his career with 1990’s Home Alone. Even when he was not directing his scripts, the projects typically had his thumbprint on the material enough to conjure some sort of magic. Even creative powerhouses have regrets sometimes, and one that Hughes always seemed to distance himself from was the 1991 romantic comedy Career Opportunities. The film had elements that would seem familiar to any fans of the writer with a clash between classes reminiscent of Pretty In Pink, as well as the confined space motif with inept thieves like Home Alone. Despite plastering his name all over the marketing, the feature was a big misfire at the box office. While not listed among his top tier work, this film has the benefit of a young Jennifer Connelly (Labyrinth, The Hot Spot) in the lead role that at the very least makes it worthy of exploration to see if the “forgettable” label is justified.
Our low-rent Ferris Bueller stand-in for the story is Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley, Pulp Fiction), a lower-middle class young man who cannot keep a job for the life of him. Jim has big dreams but none of the follow-through to motivate himself to possibly achieve anything. This proves to be somewhat of an issue for his father, Bud (John M. Jackson), who is tired of his son living off the sweet setup he has at home living with his parents. After Jim gets fired from his latest job, he is given an ultimatum to find a job and learn how to not lose it or risk being sent packing out of town. As played by Whaley, Jim lacks a lot of the charm that is essential for a role like this to work. Jim is known as the “town liar” due to the wildly exaggerated stories he tells to those who cross his path, but rarely does it read as endearing or clever in the same way Matthew Broderick used deceit to get what he wanted in Bueller. The best moment Jim has in this regard is his initial interview with the manager of the local Target (John Candy). A case of mistaken identity leads to some solid laughs, but this is greatly aided by Candy.
The saving grace of this film is Jennifer Connelly as Josie McClellan, the daughter of the extremely wealthy Roger Roy McClellan (Noble Willingham). While she is someone who might from the outside present as the “spoiled rich girl,” Josie would give up all of that to be out from under the thumb of her controlling father. She is seen early on acting out in order to get a rise out of him, and she considers going to the next level with this by shoplifting from the local Target. While ultimately she chickens out of this idea, she falls asleep in the dressing room and wakes up locked inside of the store with Jim, who has likewise been locked in by his cranky superior (William Forsythe) to clean up overnight as a janitor. While never incredibly close before this, the movie has some nice moments where the two grow closer to one another. Their scenario plays like a fantasy world, but it is one you don’t mind getting lost inside. A shared slow dance between the two serves as an emotional highlight due to what it means for each character.
While the basic conceit of the story is emotionally lovely, the movie is missing a key component thanks to the lack of charisma from Whaley. Connelly compensates for this somewhat, but she can only do so much to create sparks. With Whaley being the comedic driving force of the film, most of the intended laughs fall flat or at most elicit a chuckle. There is also a misguided choice to force in a pair of incompetent thieves (Dermot and Kieran Mulroney) which feels like a studio addition after the success of Home Alone. The movie has some decent moments, but it is easy to see why this is considered B-or-C-level work from John Hughes. You will probably mostly enjoy your experience while watching the film, but it will not stick with you as much as the various other classics he has crafted over the years.
Video Quality
Career Opportunities makes its Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2:35:1 that appears to be derived from a really solid older master that is in great shape. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches occasionally pop up, but overall clarity and detail is excellent. The presentation is enjoyable throughout most of the runtime with image stability and delineation being top notch. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with only minor instances of seeming a bit loose. The picture maintains a nice depth even in long shots, and colors are well saturated with the bright hues of the various pieces of merchandise coming through. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with very little in the way of crush. This presentation is a really nice effort that should please fans.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that features all of the sounds of the film quite well. This is a film that utilizes music effectively, including numerous period-specific tunes that really come alive. This and all of the other music is presented with great clarity and a pleasing fidelity as they come through the room. The dialogue holds up wonderfully, coming through clearly without being stepped on by the music or sound effects. The environmental effects are delineated nicely from the bustling aisles of Target during business hours to the sounds of Officer Don riding around town looking for Josie. The track avoids most instances of age related wear and tear or distortion. This is a track that represents the film in an impressive manner. Optional English subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Chicago Critics Film Festival Producer Erik Childress provides an informative commentary track in which he gives a great amount of background information, offers insights into the troubled production, draws comparisons to modern entertainment, points out missing scenes from the final film, talks about the marketing that made Jennifer Connelly uncomfortable, defends the film’s place in John Hughes’ filmography and more.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer for Career Opportunities is provided here. There are also trailers provided for The Hot Spot, Bright Angel, Retroactive and Just Visiting.
Final Thoughts
Career Opportunities does not represent the pinnacle of success for anyone involved, but it is not completely without charm. While Whaley may be miscast, Jennifer Connelly elevates the film substantially with her inherent charm. When the movie keeps its feet on the ground, it is able to conjure up some nice character moments that make the endeavor worthwhile. Kino Classics has delivered a strong Blu-Ray with a pleasing A/V presentation and a worthwhile commentary track. If you are a John Hughes completist the disc should make a nice addition to your collection.
Career Opportunities is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
