“Career Opportunities” is a 1991 American romantic comedy film directed by Bryan Gordon and starring Frank Whaley and Jennifer Connelly.
The film tells the story of Jim Dodge (played by Frank Whaley), a young man who is hired to work the night shift as a janitor at a local Target store. He ends up spending the night locked in the store with Josie McClellan (played by Jennifer Connelly), a wealthy and beautiful girl he has had a crush on since high school. Over the course of the night, they get to know each other and find themselves drawn to each other despite their different backgrounds.
The film received mixed reviews upon its release but has since gained a cult following. It is notable for featuring a young Jennifer Connelly in one of her early leading roles, and for its memorable scene of Connelly riding a mechanical horse in the store while Whaley watches in awe.
As for career opportunities related to the film industry, there are various jobs available such as acting, directing, producing, screenwriting, cinematography, sound design, visual effects, and many others. However, breaking into the industry can be challenging and requires a combination of talent, hard work, and networking.
Cast
Here’s a list of the main cast members of “Career Opportunities” (1991):
- Frank Whaley as Jim Dodge
- Jennifer Connelly as Josie McClellan
- Dermot Mulroney as Nestor Pyle
- Kieran Mulroney as Gil Kinney
- John Candy as Bud Dodge (Jim’s father)
- Jenny O’Hara as Dotty Dodge (Jim’s mother)
- Noble Willingham as Roger Roy McClellan (Josie’s father)
- Barry Corbin as Officer Don
- William Forsythe as Custodian
Production
Here’s some information about the production of “Career Opportunities” (1991):
- Director: Bryan Gordon
- Writer: John Hughes
- Producer: John Hughes
- Cinematographer: Tom Richmond
- Editor: Don Brochu
- Music: Thomas Newman
The film was produced by Hughes Entertainment and released by Universal Pictures. It was shot on location in the Chicago area and features a number of recognizable locations, such as a Target store in Skokie, Illinois.
“Career Opportunities” was one of several films that writer/producer John Hughes made during the late 1980s and early 1990s, many of which were coming-of-age stories set in the Chicago area. The film’s soundtrack features songs by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, among others.
Despite mixed reviews, “Career Opportunities” has gained a cult following over the years, in part due to Jennifer Connelly’s breakout performance and the film’s quirky sense of humor.
Reviews
Here’s a summary of some reviews of “Career Opportunities” (1991):
- Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the movie 2.5 out of 4 stars, calling it “a formula movie” but also “an honest one, and there’s something to be said for that.” He praised Jennifer Connelly’s performance but felt that the movie’s “quirky characters and improbable situations” were ultimately “disappointing.”
- Caryn James of The New York Times wrote that the movie “lacks the style and energy of [John] Hughes’s earlier works” and criticized it for being “painfully predictable.” She also felt that Frank Whaley’s character was “too much of a loser to be interesting” and that the movie’s attempts at humor fell flat.
- Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman gave the film a C+ rating, calling it “a bland, prefab romantic comedy” that “feels like an inferior copy of an inferior copy.” He also criticized the movie’s “silly slapstick” and lack of chemistry between the leads.
Despite the mixed reviews, “Career Opportunities” has gained a cult following over the years, with some viewers appreciating its offbeat humor and Jennifer Connelly’s performance.
Where are they now?
Some information on what the main cast members of “Career Opportunities” (1991) are up to now:
- Frank Whaley (Jim Dodge): Whaley has continued to act in films and television since “Career Opportunities.” Some of his notable credits include “Pulp Fiction,” “Swimming with Sharks,” and “Ray Donovan.” He has also directed several films and TV episodes.
- Jennifer Connelly (Josie McClellan): Connelly has had a successful career in Hollywood since “Career Opportunities.” She has won an Academy Award for her role in “A Beautiful Mind” and has appeared in films like “Requiem for a Dream,” “Hulk,” and “Alita: Battle Angel.” She has also worked as a model and is a global ambassador for the beauty brand Shiseido.
- Dermot Mulroney (Nestor Pyle): Mulroney has continued to act in films and television over the years. Some of his notable credits include “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Young Guns,” and “The Righteous Gemstones.”
- John Candy (Bud Dodge): Candy passed away in 1994 at the age of 43 due to a heart attack. He had a successful career in Hollywood, with notable credits including “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Cool Runnings.”
- Noble Willingham (Roger Roy McClellan): Willingham passed away in 2004 at the age of 72 due to natural causes. He had a long career in Hollywood, with notable credits including “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “The Last Boy Scout,” and “City Slickers.”
- Barry Corbin (Officer Don): Corbin has continued to act in films and television since “Career Opportunities.” Some of his notable credits include “No Country for Old Men,” “The Ranch,” and “Northern Exposure.”
- William Forsythe (Custodian): Forsythe has continued to act in films and television over the years. Some of his notable credits include “The Rock,” “Boardwalk Empire,” and “Dick Tracy.”
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about “Career Opportunities” (1991):
- The film was originally titled “One Wild Night” and was written by John Hughes in the 1980s. It was later reworked and retitled “Career Opportunities” before its release.
- The movie features a mechanical horse that Jennifer Connelly’s character rides through the store. The horse was built specifically for the movie and required a team of four puppeteers to operate.
- The film was shot entirely at night to give the movie a dreamlike quality. According to director Bryan Gordon, they wanted the film to feel like a “fairy tale.”
- Jennifer Connelly’s character is named after the actress Josie Bissett, who starred in the TV series “The Hogan Family” with Frank Whaley.
- John Candy has a small but memorable role in the film as Jim’s father. He reportedly did the role as a favor to John Hughes.
- The movie was a box office disappointment, grossing only $11 million against a budget of $13 million. However, it has since gained a cult following on home video and cable TV.
- The film’s original ending was changed after test screenings. The new ending, which features Jim and Josie leaving the store together, was shot in a single night.
Box office
Here’s some information about the box office performance of “Career Opportunities” (1991):
The film was released on March 29, 1991, and grossed $1,124,903 in its opening weekend, placing it at #8 at the box office. It went on to gross a total of $11,368,256 in the United States.
While the movie did not perform as well as some of John Hughes’ other films, it was made on a modest budget of $13 million and managed to recoup its production costs. The film has since gained a cult following on home video and cable TV.
