Career Opportunities (film)

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Career Opportunities
The movie cover for Career Opportunities - North American DVD release: Jennifer Connelly and Frank Whaley
Directed by	Bryan Gordon
Produced by	John Hughes Hunt Lowry
Written by	John Hughes
Starring	Frank Whaley Jennifer Connelly
Music by	Thomas Newman
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	March 29, 1991
Running time	83 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Career Opportunities is an American romantic comedy film that was released in 1991. The film starred Frank Whaley and co-starred Jennifer Connelly in one of her first lead film roles. It was written by John Hughes and directed by Bryan Gordon.

The film stars Whaley as Jim, a young man trapped in a dead-end job as an overnight janitor at a local Target department store, and Connelly as Josie, the stereotypical "spoiled/frustrated little rich girl". After a lengthy set up, the main action of the film begins when Josie, in a half-hearted runaway attempt, hides in Jim's store after hours. Discovered by the lonely janitor, Josie and Jim identify each other as kindred spirits and proceed to enjoy the freedom of being locked together in the store overnight. But things become complicated when two incompetent crooks (played by Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney) break into the store and hold the two teenagers hostage until the tables are turned.

In the end Jim and Josie elope to Los Angeles with $52,000 (US) dollars she stole from her Father. (Screenwriter John Hughes used the same "kids vs. crooks" theme in his earlier Home Alone.)

Career Opportunities was a modest success at the time of its release, and (along with Dennis Hopper's The Hot Spot) is credited with making Connelly a teen idol (even though she was in her early 20s by this time).

[edit] Trivia

The department store shown in the film is Target. Jim announces over the public address system that he is "the grand poobah of Target'.

The movie was released as 'One Wild Night' in the UK.

[edit] Continuity Errors

While sitting in a booth at the snack bar, Josie asks Jim if he'll run away with her, and Josie's hair is covering her ears. When Jim says yes, Josie's hair is tucked back behind her ears.