Career Opportunities [DVD]

One of my favorite rom-coms. The chemistry between the two protagonists is wonderful and I especially enjoyed their scenes together. Very charming!And what can you say about the 20 year old Jennifer Connelly except that her beauty takes one's breath away. The roller skating scene alone is classic filmmaking. The scene serves as a metaphorical representation of Jim and Josie's budding romance, capturing the joy, excitement, and intimacy of their connection as they glide through the empty store together. It's a pivotal moment in their relationship, signaling the beginning of a deeper emotional bond and setting the stage for the rest of the film. Skating requires balance and coordination, both physically and emotionally. In the scene, Jim and Josie learn to balance each other out, supporting and relying on one another as they navigate the challenges of the night.There are similarities between the storyline of "Career Opportunities" and William Inge's play "Picnic," particularly in the portrayal of a protagonist who is an underachiever drifting through life. In both stories, the main character finds themselves in a small-town setting and becomes involved in unexpected and transformative encounters with others.In "Picnic," the protagonist is Hal Carter, a charming but aimless drifter who arrives in a small Kansas town and disrupts the lives of its residents. Hal forms a connection with Madge Owens, the town beauty, and their relationship becomes a focal point of the story. Despite their differences in social status and background, Hal and Madge are drawn to each other, and their romance serves as a catalyst for personal growth and self-discovery.Similarly, in "Career Opportunities," the protagonist Jim Dodge is portrayed as an underachiever who finds himself trapped overnight in a Target store with Josie McClellan, the most beautiful girl in town. Like Hal and Madge, Jim and Josie come from different backgrounds and have contrasting personalities, but they form a bond during their time together in the store. Their experiences lead to moments of self-reflection and personal revelation, ultimately allowing them to break free from their respective limitations and pursue their dreams.Both stories explore themes of identity, love, and the search for meaning in small-town America, albeit in different contexts and with unique characters. While "Career Opportunities" may draw inspiration from "Picnic" and other works of literature and theater, it also offers its own distinct take on the romantic comedy genre, with its quirky humor, memorable characters, and heartwarming storyline.

Good

(3.5 stars for the film, 4 stars for the blu-ray)"Career Opportunities" was released in 1991 to mostly negative reviews with an underperfoming box office take of only $11.3 million. It was written and co-produced by John Hughes while Bryan Gordon handled directing duties. The film co-starred Frank Whaley and Jennifer Connelly who was only 19 years old when this film was made. William Forsythe is also part of the cast. The basic plot involves Jim Dodge (Whaley) who works at a Target store who gets locked in overnight in the store by his boss. He quickly finds out that the local rich girl Josie McClellan (Connelly) is also locked in the store with him as well. Sparks eventually fly and eventually a couple of thieves break into the store which leads to more comedic hijinks.I was only 16 years old when "Career Opportunities" was released to theaters back in 1991. (Production on the film actually began in November 1989.) The poster art, which placed a strong emphasis on Jennifer Connelly's impressive cleavage, was a major selling point. Needless to say that she looks positively amazing & sexy throughout while also delivering a good performance. The most famous scene involves her riding a coin operated horse while wearing an extremely tight white tank top which really made an impression on me and many others. She just exhudes a playful sexuality that her character uses to distract the thieves who eventually break into the store. Frank Whaley turns in an enjoyable performance and the rest of the small cast acquit themselves nicely. The movie while entirely predictable is quite a nostalgic piece of cinema for me and many others. Its runtime is only a brisk 83 minutes so it does not overstay its welcome at all. "Career Opportunities" is a fun bit of early 90's romantic comedy that still manages to entertain 30 years later.Kino Lorber under their Studio Classics line gives the film its long overdue blu-ray release. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio utilizing the AVC codec at a beefy bit rate usually staying in the mid to upper 30's. Nothing on the back of the case indicates this being a new transfer so it is apparently an existing master that Univeral provided to Kino Lorber. Overall the film looks good. Detail is solid though it appears that some digital noise reduction was applied throughout though things never appear too smooth or complexions too waxy. Colors along with contrast & black levels look accurate. While a new 2K scan from either the original camera negative or interpositive would have really allowed the movie to truly pop, for an older HD master, "Career Opportunities" looks good on blu-ray and a decent step up from the ancient DVD. Fans should be pleased.Sound is presented in English DTS-HD master audio 2.0 channel audio sounding clear and well balanced. English subtitles in white font are included for the hearing impaired.Extras are as follows:- Audio Commentary by Chicago Critics Film Festival Producer Erik Childress- Theatrical TrailerThe commentary track is excellent and packed full of tons of great information about the film as well a critical analysis of the themes and plot itself. Well worth a listen for fans. While some cast interviews would have been nice, I continue to like how Kino Lorber will include commentary tracks whenever possible instead of releasing bare bones blu-rays."Career Opportunities" is finally on blu-ray thanks to the fine people at Kino Lorber. The film looks and sounds good overall and the included commentary track is well worth a listen. Fans of Jennifer Connelly should pick up this disc immediately. She looks absolutely stunning throughout. The film itself is fun and a nice piece of early nineties nostalgia.