Career Opportunities

Precis: A teen (Frank Whaley) is hired as a night watchman/janitor of a store akin to K-Mart. On his first day, he is locked in with a rich girl (Jennifer Connelly), who was considering shoplifting in a dressing room when the store closed. Fun comedy turns to drama when Dermot Mulroney attempts rob the place.

John Hughes rocks! This movie, however, does not. But I have the feeling that none of you have heard of it anyway. You should probably stay that way.

Now, I'm not going to lie to you. I used to watch this movie all the time on cable when I was younger. All the time. But when you are 9 or so, your tastes aren't as discretionary as they are when you are, say, 29. So it goes.

In any case, John Hughes' screenplay reads like something he came up with on a cocktail napkin after a few too many. Honestly, he writes teen in incredible situations tremendously well the rest of the time, but something is lacking in this movie. Sparkle, I think. It needs more sparkle.

Bryan Gordon's textbook direction doesn't really help. If you have seen Whaley, Connelly, and Mulroney in anything else, then you know that all three have talent. This movie simply does not give them the opportunity to showcase it.

If you do choose to rent it or catch it on cable, make sure you watch for John Candy's unbilled cameo: it has sparkle.