User reviews

I get such a kick out of all the comments that mention how beautiful Jennifer Connelly is. Basically because in this movie that's all Josie's ever heard... how she's such a great piece of a$$ ("the town tease"), and the redundancy of these comments she's encountered up to now has her almost proud of that fact. "... I never tease..." But the truth is, nobody cares who she is as a person (including you the viewer), and that kills her. Those that have criticized and commented on the movie are actually characters IN the movie. As we comment on how beautiful Connelly is, we in turn become a part of Josie's past, and we are responsible for who she is now. Add the issues of her father, who only threatens her (and the cop) with abuse and attempts of control. Josie is physically beautiful, but that is her main problem. She's a really f'ed up chick. She is a temporary trophy, until something better comes along. And being that negative attention is better than no attention at all, you can understand what brought her to the store in the first place. When Jim tells Josie of his dream of her, she instantly thinks "sex"... cause up until this point in her life, that all she has to offer anyone. She is instantly caught off guard when Jim suggests a simple dance, one that he's been dreaming of since the 7th grade. And of all the people Josie has ever been with, Jim is the first gentleman she's ever met. And for the first time in both of their lives, a true connection is made. Yes, the Home Alone skits are below average, but for me, the problem is that they take away from the connection that the two leads are making. The best part of this whole movie is the unspoken dialogue between Connelly and Whaley, as they tried desperately to comfort each other in this time of chaos. Whaley has most of the creative dialogue, but Connelly's character is the one of interest (and issues). This is a much more psychological romance than most give it credit for.

One of John Hughes' underrated gems! I rented this movie already possessing knowledge of what it was about, who was in it, and what other people thought about it from their comments. "Career Opportunities," had plenty of laughs along with some deeper, emotional setback drawn out between Whaley and Connelly, who of course both played their parts VERY well. And every other guy who hasn't seen a young Jennifer Connelly... should. The story unfolds smoothly as we find out more about the lives of two small town people.

It's a movie where the characters are trying to understand where the rich, abused, dreaming, "tease" and dweebish, hopeful, incompetent "town liar" come from. There is also a sweet connection they develop from just talking about their lives and how they've changed since they last met. The more we hear and develop feelings for these two confused people, the more we can illustrate their current dilemma of being trapped within the lives that their families want them to live.

The soundtrack was pretty great! One of the best soundtracks I have heard in a comedy.

Dermot and Kieran Mulroney did a nice job playing some goofy small town crooks. However I thought the whole burglar part of the movie could have been achieved in better ways-- but it is what it is.

If you do watch this film look out for a cameo appearance from John Candy as the Target Team manager who gives Whaley his janitor position. Very funny... and casual.

Altogether, very well done and VERY underrated. I still don't understand why Whaley didn't become a bigger star after this movie such as Broderick did with Ferris Bueller. And OK, so maybe not perfect, but there are MUCH worse movies out there. "Career Opportunities" is a fun film that should be watched if you're a fan of John Hughes' work.

A very well done, humorous teenage love story that every "not so popular" guy who was passed over in high school can appreciate. Funny, awkward, and lighthearted, this movie has something for everyone. This was the first movie I saw Jennifer Connelly in and just like the main character, immediately fell in love with her. What an outstanding actress, although this is perhaps not her best performance. All together this is a great "Order in on Saturday night and have a few laughs with the wife/girlfriend" kind of feel good romantic romp.

I sat down to watch "Career Opportunities" for the second time now in 2021, after not having seen the movie since shortly after it was released.

Needless to say that actress Jennifer Connelly (playing Josie McClellan) is the main attraction in this movie, no doubt about it. And she really is a talented actress, which "Career Opportunities" definitely also proves.

This is a young adult comedy of sorts, but it does have elements of other genres to it as well. Throw in a little pinch of crime as well, and you have a great cocktail of a movie.

The storyline told in "Career Opportunities" is a pretty straight forward one, and it is one that definitely is entertaining enough. However, I do think that the storyline told in "Career Opportunities" is actually not one that will find an appeal with just anyone in the audience, given the main character of Jim Dodge (played by Frank Whaley).

Despite being released back in 1991 then "Career Opportunities" is a movie that very much still is watchable even now in 2021, now 30 years after it was released. And the movie does have that timeless feel to it, so that was quite some accomplishment on behalf of writer John Hughes and director Bryan Gordon.

My rating of "Career Opportunities" lands on a six out of ten stars. If you haven't already seen this movie, you should do so, if you have the opportunity to do so. It is quite well worth the time and effort.

I first saw this film in 1993 when I was 13 years old, but recently saw it again for the first time in 20 years. I was actually removed from a Target store after putting on a pair of skates and skating around the store. No, it wasn't recently.

The film itself is yet another awesome movie from John Hughes. The story flows well, and it's written well enough that you're not exactly sure what's going to happen.

From the aspect of comedy, this film is hilarious, unless you lack a sense of humor. And if you don't have a sense of humor, Jennifer Connelly spends the majority of the movie in spandex and a very tight tanks top.

Frank Whaley plays Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley), a thoroughly annoying smart-mouthed wise-ass waste-of-space with a dead end job as a night janitor in a supermarket. Jennifer Connelly plays Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly), a poor little rich girl desperate to get away from her millionaire daddy (who beats her). When Josie chickens out of shoplifting at the last minute, she is locked in the shop for the night and meets Jim (as he roller-skates down an aisle in his boxers and a wedding veil!). Together they do a bit of collective soul-searching, swap sob stories and decide to run away together. However, their plans are interrupted somewhat when a couple of gun wielding thieves break into the store...

Despite being written by top teen-movie maker John Hughes and featuring a pretty decent cast (John Candy has a cameo and the two leads are both capable actors), Career Opportunities (AKA One Wild Night), is a rather weak comedy with irritating characters and very few laughs.

I, like most males who have reviewed this movie on IMDb, do agree, however, that it is worth viewing if you are a fan of Jennifer Connelly and her very impressive curves. The delectable JC looks stunning in a tight white vest and standout scenes include her rollerskating through the shop, and rocking slowly back and forth on a supermarket horse ride (a moment guaranteed to raise the blood pressure of all heterosexual men).

But of course, Ms. Connelly looking damn fine doesn't make this a great piece of film-making (just great eye-candy), and ultimately this is a rather desperate 'comedy' that comes nowhere near to the matching the quality of Hughes' 80s output.

Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley) is a dreamer, a fibber, constantly getting fired, and highly unlikely to leave home anytime soon. His father is eager to kick him out and forces him to take a job at Target. He's the night clean up boy who is locked in overnight by himself. Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly) is the town's rich girl who is looking to escape her corrupt businessman father. She chickens out of shoplifting but ends up falling asleep in the dressing room. The unlikely couple is joined by petty criminals Nestor Pyle (Dermot Mulroney) and Gil Kinney (Kieran Mulroney).

It's every boy's dream to be locked in a Target overnight with Jennifer Connelly. She is lovely and Frank Whaley's talkative character grows on me. This is not a critical success but nobody can deny Jennifer in her white tank top. It's fun to rollerskate through the store.

***SPOILERS*** The very sight of the drop dead gorgeous and ultra sexy 20 year old Jennefer Connelly, as spoiled little rich girl Josie McClellan, riding and rolling on a electronic pony was more then worth the price of admission then the duration of the entire movie. Josie gets herself locked up in the Target's ladies dressing room trying to shoplift a $20.00 pair of ladies underpants even though she had as much as $52,000.00 of cash on her to pay for it and ends up having the run of the place. That's until two crooks Nester & Gil, Demont & Kieran Mulroney who are obviously brothers, show up-after hiding and smoking pot in the store men's room- to rip the place off.

The good for nothing $4.40 cent an hour night clean-up boy Jim Dodge, Frank Whaley, on his first day or night on the job ends up getting stuck-lucky guy-with Josie for the entire night that's a lot more then he ever bargained for. And in the end goes off with her to sunny California to start a new life as well as career opportunity in the up and coming multi-billion dollar industry of Silicon Valley. The fact that Josie comes from the richest family in the state of Georgia is nothing compared in what she got from hooking up with the cute clean-up boy Frank who showed her just what a good time, in running for her life and safety from the two Mulroney brothers as well as the local police, rally is.

Jenniffer Connelly who just was seen in the movie "The Racketeer" who soon rocketed to the top as the hottest actress in Hollywood in this so-so movie about America's youth. As for actor Frank Whaley with the exception of playing accused but not proved JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald in movies like "JFK" & "Fatal Deception Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald" he never had a part in a film as good or satisfying with a co-star as Connelly as the lowly Target night time clean-up boy Jim Dodge in "Career Opportunities".

"Career Opportunities" starts off promising enough, but after an hour it slips into "Home Alone" territory and becomes silly. The cast are very good in their parts, especially Frank Whaley, who's a very funny and charismatic lead and the gorgeous Jennifer Connelly. It also has a slick directing job by Bryan Gordon and a fun cameo by John Candy. I enjoyed the film's first half, which is really funny and clever. It's the films last half, which is a bummer. When the two robbers come in, the film loses mosts of its laughs and becomes pointless and silly. It seems as if John Hughes just ran out of ideas and ripped off his "Home Alone" concept, like all of his '90's family movies. Overall, its a failed, but entertaining and sometimes funny attempt for Hughes to make a comeback at teen movies.

That simple. I don't know exactly why, just that it did. Thought the kid (Whaley) did great. Funny, good delivery. Connelly is great too. The movie is funny, entertaining.. I also like some of the the way off the beaten path songs, and I remember this movie well after nearly 30 years. No it's not Oscar stuff or cerebral, but it was fun then and still is. It's a little like Big Fat Liar, and I gave that one an even higher rating because I think Paul Giamatti delivered absolutely one of the funniest single performances I've ever seen.

This is far and away the worst of Hughes' teen movies. Poor casting and a weak plot doom it. Don't let the appearance of John Candy in this turkey fool you. He is only in the film for a few minutes. Avoid this one at all costs.

I've noticed many a red blooded lad has made mention of how lovely the ever-so-lovely Jennifer Connelly is in what may be the worlds most amazing white tank top. Some have also mentioned the exestintial bliss of watching her rocking back and forth atop the luckiest dime-store mechanical horse ever constructed. And believe me when I say bravo to you all, all you men (and possibly ladies?) of good taste. For these are great images indeed in what turns out to be a very very funny little flick (to this day I still refer to TARGET as JIMGET).

However, it is the awe inspiring sight of watching the absolutely stunning Miss (sadly Mrs.) Connelly moving with absolute grace and beauty through TARGET's open isles on a pair of classic style roller skates.

I remember having the good fortune of seeing "Career Oppotunities" when it played in the theaters (damn, that tank top looked good on that 50 foot high screen). I already had the world's biggest crush on Connelly since I first saw her in "Labyrinth" back in the Summer of '86. So seeing her "all grown up" in films like "The Hot Spot" and "Rocketeer" was like Heaven. But best of all, I had the good fortune of having a laser disc player back in the early 90's. And on one very lucky B-Day, I was given a widescreen LD copy of "Career Opportunites". I gotta tell ya, as good as the whole movie was, on side two of the album sized discus was a scene that bordered on the very edge of Nirvana itself: Jennifer Connelly on skates. Mmmmm mmmm good. It was my absolute fav moment from when I saw it in the theater. I can imagine getting the rythme and pattern of their choreography was probobly a nightmare for Frank Whaley and Connelly, but honest to God, they look like they are having a total blast. And the more fun it looked for them, the more amazing she looked in a state of perpetual motion that can only be described as stunning. *Mmmmmm, Jennifer Connelly* spoken in Homer Simpson like voice.

It's funny. I haven't watched this film in quite sometime (my old LD player she don't play so well no mo'). And after having read some of these wonderful reviews and typing out this testimonial to the beauty and grace of a young Jennifer Connelly, I may have to track down a nice new copy of it on DVD. It's just too bad the local TARGET doesn't have it in stock. The irony alone would be worth it. Well, that and our lovely Miss Connelly, of course. ;)

Long live JIMGET!!!

Writer John Hughes, Perhaps better known for his popular yet overrated 'Home Alone' series scores here with a charming and delightful romantic comedy starring clever comedian Frank Whaley. When the town liar Jim ( Whaley ) loses his umpteenth job in comical fashion. His father lays down an ultimatum. If Jim loses one more job he will be kicked out of the house. Where Jim has already confessed that he loves living at home since the accommodations are four star. Having burned most of his bridges with the local businessmen through his incompetence Jim has few options left. And we find our hero as 'Night clean up boy' at none other than the local 'Target' store. Well this leads to all types of mishaps and hilarious situations which are executed nicely, by the clumsy and exaggerating yet imminently likable Jim. Enter the crush interest, portrayed by the fabulous Jennifer Conelly. Josie is the daughter of a local bigwig, yet she seems disenchanted by what life in the small North Carolina Town has to offer. She is the apple of Jim's eye, and just about every other male's eye within the range of vision. Conelly really looked beautiful in this role. It was before she had dieted down to where she now has two pool cues for legs. Nowadays Conelly looks as if she's had two crackers a day for the last three years. And the nose job which makes her face seem sharper and pointier does not become her. But she looks amazing here as Whaley discovers after they've locked him inside the store for the night, to look after things and tidy up. Josie, you see, in an act of rebellion has locked herself inside the store in a botched shoplift attempt. And it turns out her and Jim are the only two people in the building. The dialogue between Jim and Josie is refreshing even if it isn't realistic. Jim is incredulously surprised when Josie identifies him as the town liar. Even though she doesn't mean it as an insult. But Jim does treat her like a person instead of a sex object and this is something that Josie is not used to. The two share TV Dinners in front of the electronics presentation and even a slow dance. And you can relate to the way Jim would feel in the presence of such a gorgeous creature. He does not want the Sun to come up. It's not perfect of course. Anyone would have a hard time believing that beauty Queen Josie would fall for the twerpish bullshitting Jim. And the actors are being too serious for comedic license. But the thing is, you want to believe it, and that only adds to the film's charm. Eventually, the whole thing starts to unravel and the film degenerates into the Hughes tradition of bungling burglars and other stupid nonsense, and the magic is lost. But for a brief time the suspension of disbelief makes us exist in this modest oasis of romance, and there's no red blooded American male who didn't imagine himself there with Conelly. But between the capable antics of the sidesplitting Whaley and the remarkable beauty of the breathtaking Conelly. They are more than enough to carry a film that definitely has some top moments. Credit Hughes for coming up with a good premise than finding the perfect actors to make it work. A very enjoyable and original romantic comedy. 7 out of a possible 10 T.H.

This is a great comedy. In it, Frank Whaley plays the towns B.S. artist named Jim, still living at home in his mid 20's, in the search for gainful employment. He ends up getting a job as the night janitor at a Target. Once locked in for the night he discovers that a girl he has had a crush on, named Josie, played quite seductively by Jennifer Connelly, is locked in with him. While they flirt and get to know each other. During the course of the night, two armed robbers break in and Jim and Josie need to thwart their plans. I found this movie endearing and funny. Frank Whaley is probably one of the best and most underrated character actors out there. Two of his most memorable appearances for me were in Psych and House MD. Jennifer Connelly is of course gorgeous, but talented in her own right. This is not the kind of film that will ever win any awards, but it is well worth the watch.

In the midwestern town of Monroe, Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley) is a 21 year old slacker who has been fired from nearly every low level job in town and spins far fetched elaborate lies much to the ire of the entire town. Jim's father (John M. Jackson) fed up with his son's irresponsible behavior, lazy attitude, and lack of desire to move out, presents Jim with an ultimatum of either landing the night janitor position at Target or take the bus to St. Louis to work in his uncle's garden shop. Jim lands the position only to find that he'll be locked in the store alone until 7:00am. Jim alleviates his boredom by playing with the merchandise and eating candy until he finds Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly) also in the store after having fallen asleep in the changing room. Over the night the two bond with Josie venting her frustrations with her wealthy abusive father and Jim about the mundanity of his smalltown existence.

Produced and written by John Hughes, Career Opportunities marks the feature debut of Bryan Gordon a writer on Laugh In and Fridays who had previously won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject for Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall. While produced and written by Hughes, he was reportedly so dissatisfied with the final product citing studio interference that he tried to take his name off the final film only to be refused by Universal following the success of Home Alone desiring to capitalize on the association. The film would mark the final teen film for Hughes until the mostly buried Reach the Rock with Hughes' focus shifting entirely to slapstick shenanigans comedies. The movie is unfortunately not a high point for Hughes and it's clear why Hughes wanted his name removed.

Frank Whaley is incredibly unlikable as Jim Dodge, with his unearned pride, ego, laziness and brazen lying he's about as unappealing a lead I've seen in a film like this. While Ferris Bueller is often jokingly referred to as a sociopath at least that movie sets itself up in a world of escapist High School fantasy that makes it clear it's aware of the silliness of its premise. Career Opportunities on the other hand isn't framed the same as Ferris Bueller's Day Off and plays more like if you crudely inserted Ferris Bueller into the Breakfast Club. Jennifer Connelly seems confused as to what movie she's in as she plays her role very straight with a tonally out of place subplot where her character is dealing with physical abuse from her father. While The Breakfast Club was a serious character study about high school archetypes, Ferris Bueller was meant to be a fantasy and here Hughes has basically taken his two films and stapled them together with little regard to whether they should fit together. The movie doesn't work as a comedy because it often has no one serving as a straightman to Jim's antics, the movie doesn't work as a romance because Jim's character and Josie don't feel like they're from the same movie with rather heavy material of Connelly's character conflicting with the almost "Bugs Bunny" like demeanor with which Whaley carries himself.

Career Opportunities is a bad movie, it's a mishmash of tones and storybeats that simply don't belong together. Maybe if the film had tried to be either more character based or more of an escapist comedy it might have worked, but as is there's really nothing here that wasn't done better in past Hughes projects.

All I can really say is Jennifer Connelly is just a bombshell and she should have been destined for instant stardom if she had been given better roles earlier in her career. That said, her career has worked out just fine in the long run though in today's cultural sensibilities it may be correct to look back and say that producers and directors focused or even took advantage of her breathtaking looks to such an extent that they did not do enough to bring out her top-shelf acting abilities.

Aside from Connelly, the second highlight is a short scene with John Candy in which he just hits it out of the park. Because that's what he always does.

This is a John Hughes script but not one of his best and it wasn't directed by him.

Not to be taken seriously.

Career Opportunities is a guilty pleasure of mine. I saw it for the first time last year, but I've since bought the movie, and watched it several times. The plot has several different characters ending up in an unlikely situation. Frank Whaley stars as an unmotivated pathological liar, who is starting his first shift as a night janitor at a Target store. Jennifer Connelly plays a lovely, but frustrated rich girl who just wants to get away from her father's numbing influence. And Dermot and Kieran Mulrooney portray two inept criminals, intent on looting the Target.

The first third of the movie is similar to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", in that Whaley is avoiding responsibility, and frequently has clever comments to the camera or other characters. The middle third reminds me of the "Breakfast Club", when Whaley discovers Connelly in his store after hours, and the two sit down to get to know each other. The final third is very reminiscent of "Home Alone" in the way the two criminals threaten Whaley and Connelly, and the way they get outsmarted. Nowhere near as violent as Home Alone, but still similar in tone.

All of this makes for quite the fun film. Whaley is hilarious, especially when amusing himself alone in the store, Connelly is good as the "poor little rich girl" that just wants her freedom. Plus, she's an absolute knockout! The Mulrooney brothers are disgusting and slimy as the villains, and it's very satisfying to see them get everything that's coming to them.

Can't be fairly compared to any of it's three inspirations, but still a nice package from Hughes that you will enjoy again and again.

Okay, so this one never did (and never will) win any awards. But pound for pound, John Hughes was never better and never will be again, most likely. Yes, I know, I know. "Ferris B." is a more coherent, cohesive film. And "Breakfast Club" has all the lines. And "Pretty in Pink" has all the pathos, plus Ducky. But this one's got Jim Dodge (F. Whaley). Easily one of my favorite film creations ever. You can't not love this guy. Even in the usually dumb montages that plagues MTV-ish films of this nature, he's charming (wearing a veil and cow-boxers and rollerskating, for instance). And then there's Jennifer "Eternally Easy on the Eyes" Connelly who, yes, has her usual charms (both of them), but who manages to bring a degree of wit, grace and sincerity to the "girl next door anyone would die to get with" role that's rarely been matched since. This film's full of terrific lines and memorable moments. Jim's "Jimget" fantasy. John Candy's entire cameo. "Could I get this uniform washed, it...smells a little like Darnell." "You mean you've never heard of sashimi?" "The subsonic tummy bump..." The list is endless. The bad part: yes, the last 15 or so minutes are plagued by a lack of money and a lack of laughs (money as in it looks like they ran out and decided to end the film...now). But the two leads are terrific together and the idea of them hashing out their high school trials and tribs in this particular setting is quite effective, really. Sweet, simple, goofy and funny, this one deserves another look, despite the "run out of steam in the last stretch of the race" factor.

If you want to listen 90-x good music , story about teenage problem with grain of romantic - welcome , you will be satisfied.

The film is a bit of fun, but I couldn't focus (because of obvious reasons).

It is a really fun concept, but it felt to me it fell a bit flat.

Jesus am I jealous of Jim.