Career Opportunities

Name: Career Opportunities
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: March 29, 1991
Duration: 83 min
Rating: 41
Cast: Barry Corbin, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Whaley, Jennifer Connelly, Jenny O'Hara

1991

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Mixed or average reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Career Opportunities

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Movie Details & Credits

Carolco | Release Date: March 29, 1991 | PG-13

Starring: Barry Corbin, Dermot Mulroney, Frank Whaley, Jennifer Connelly, Jenny O'Hara, John M. Jackson, Kieran Mulroney, Nada Despotovich, Noble Willingham, Reid Binion

Summary: Jim (Frank Whaley) is the dorky son of a local cement contractor who lives at home and has no direction. Josie (Jennifer Connelly) is the gorgeous daughter of a wealthy businessman who dreams of leaving town. They find they have a lot in common.

Director: Bryan Gordon

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 83 min

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Critic Reviews

Staff (Not Credited)

Writer-producer John Hughes' followup to Home Alone lacks the spit-polish and magic of the blockbuster but still has plenty of absorbing characters, smart, snappy dialog and delightful stretches of comic foolery. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Mr. Whaley has to work too hard to be antic in the early, Ferris Bueller-type scenes, but he gets much better in more easygoing moments. The gorgeous Ms. Connelly is more model than actress, but by those standards she is relatively lively. Read full review

Rene Carlos

I'll admit most of the movie is great. The plot is strong, and it's funny too. But then the ending cancels out everything you just saw. What a tease. There's nothing behind a good front. [5 Apr 1991, p.J]

Lina Chern

This premise is not a complete loss, and the movie is not badly written. But all of its various elements (Whaley and Connelly's friendship, their battles with the two criminals who come to rob the store, Whaley's quest to make something of himself, etc.) end up being thrown together like mismatched pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. This makes the movie messy and uninteresting. [5 Apr 1991, p.J]

Owen Gleiberman

In a sense, John Hughes doesn’t produce movies anymore. He produces entertainment machines, and Career Opportunities has been shamelessly patched together — like Frankenstein’s monster — from bits and pieces of Home Alone and The Breakfast Club. Read full review

Hal Hinson

Jennifer Connelly is very easy to look at. Career Opportunities isn't. Go see the standee. Read full review

Jay Scott

It's so much like Home Alone, it's the unofficial sequel, Home Alone II: Out on His Own. Career Opportunities shows us what happens when the Macaulay Culkin character grows up. It's not a pretty sight. [1 Apr 1991]

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User Reviews

ryu9376

Mar 31, 2023

This is literally one of my favorite comedies, as well as one of my all-time favorite films. Frank Whaley was another underrated actor. He truly was hilariously funny in this film, & Jennifer Connelly was simply beautiful.

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ShiningLion

Jul 18, 2020

Had more than a few genuine laughs from this film and there are even a few emotional moments that managed to touch my old, cold heart in ways that some similar teen 80/90s movies like the Breakfast Club didn't manage to. The conversations felt more natural/believable and less scripted/forcedHad more than a few genuine laughs from this film and there are even a few emotional moments that managed to touch my old, cold heart in ways that some similar teen 80/90s movies like the Breakfast Club didn't manage to. The conversations felt more natural/believable and less scripted/forced in comparison.

Yeah, the plot is a bit silly and many plot threads lead to nowhere, but it captures the magical feeling of being a teen in the early 90s pretty well from the viewpoint of a person at the crux of entering adulthood and having to let their childhood go, stepping into adult responsibilities. While watching, I thought this film felt like the primordial ooze that Home Alone would later crawl out of, and was surprised to find out that this movie actually came out AFTER Home Alone. That does in some ways make it feel like a cheap sort of retread of it.

Didn't really have high expectations going into this film based on other reviews, but I found it pleasant. The ridiculous ending is an utter wish fulfillment fantasy of how most of us wish our lives could turn out. For that, I kind of enjoy the escapism and the ridiculous ride and forgive the fact that it doesn't really make all that much sense.… Expand

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ComandanteCobra

Jun 15, 2020

Not the best J. Huges movie. It's the story of the town looser-slacker that, by accident, spend one night locked in a retail store with the town rich girl. During the night the two will get to know each other and help one another to overcome their problems.
This movie is an average comedyNot the best J. Huges movie. It's the story of the town looser-slacker that, by accident, spend one night locked in a retail store with the town rich girl. During the night the two will get to know each other and help one another to overcome their problems.
This movie is an average comedy that lack deep character growing compared to other teen movies of that time.
There is a lot of sexyness involved (not in a bad way) and most of screen time is a tribute to Jennifer stunning beauty.… Expand

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arrivist

Dec 9, 2019

An 82-minute advert advert for Target Corporation (plus Timex Watches, Minute Maid etc) with a score so appalling that the film actually feels three-hours long. Career Opportunities was written by John Hughes from the perspective of either: An Alien whose only knowledge of the human race hadAn 82-minute advert advert for Target Corporation (plus Timex Watches, Minute Maid etc) with a score so appalling that the film actually feels three-hours long. Career Opportunities was written by John Hughes from the perspective of either: An Alien whose only knowledge of the human race had been from watching cancelled soap operas, or a elderly inmate who has been in solitary confinement since adolescence. A truly bizarre and pointless movie, yet, Career Opportunities does serve a solitary purpose by documenting how incredibly beautiful Jennifer Connlley was in her prime.… Expand

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