Career Opportunities

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Career Opportunities is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Frank Whaley leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Career Opportunities keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Career Opportunities from the crowd. Josie, the daughter of the town's wealthiest businessman, faces problems at home and wishes to leave town but is disoriented. Her decision is finalized after she falls asleep in a Target dressing room. She awakens to find herself locked in the store overnight with the janitor, Jim, the town "no hoper" and liar. The chemistry Frank Whaley and Jennifer Connelly bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It hit screens in 1991. The timing in Career Opportunities is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Career Opportunities is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Frank Whaley's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.