Career Opportunities (film)
Encyclopedia
Career Opportunities is a 1991 American
romantic comedy film starring Frank Whaley
in his first lead role and co-starred Jennifer Connelly
in one of her first. It was written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Bryan Gordon
.
), to either land a job at the local Target
or be put on a bus to St. Louis.
Jim is hired as Night Cleanup Boy. On his first shift at his new job, Jim is locked, alone, in the store by his boss. The good news is that he encounters Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly
), the stereotypical "spoiled rich girl," who is someone he knew in school.
Josie had spent the past several hours asleep in a dressing room after backing out of shoplifting some merchandise in a half-hearted attempt to run away from her abusive father, Roger Roy McClellan (Noble Willingham
). Josie and Jim identify each other as kindred spirits and proceed to enjoy the freedom of having a store this size to themselves.
However, things become complicated when two incompetent crooks, Nestor Pyle (Dermot Mulroney
) and Gil Kinney (Kieran Mulroney
), break into the store and hold the teenagers hostage.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
romantic comedy film starring Frank Whaley
Frank Whaley
Frank Joseph Whaley is an American film and television actor known for his roles in independent films.-Personal life:Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Josephine and Robert W. Whaley, Sr. He is half-Irish and half-Sicilian and grew up in Syracuse. He has two sisters and an older...
in his first lead role and co-starred Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
in one of her first. It was written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Bryan Gordon
Bryan Gordon
Bryan Gordon is a television and film director and writer. He has been nominated three times for the Directors Guild of America Award and in 2002 received the Directors Guild award for comedy directing. He’s been nominated for an Emmy twice – both for his work on the HBO series Curb Your...
.
Plot
Jim Dodge (Frank Whaley) is a self-proclaimed "people person" and dreamer who is perceived as lazy. After being fired from numerous low-paying jobs, Jim is given the choice by his father, Bud Dodge (John M. JacksonJohn M. Jackson
John Murice Jackson is an American actor, best known for playing Rear Admiral A. J. Chegwidden on the CBS series JAG....
), to either land a job at the local Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
or be put on a bus to St. Louis.
Jim is hired as Night Cleanup Boy. On his first shift at his new job, Jim is locked, alone, in the store by his boss. The good news is that he encounters Josie McClellan (Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
), the stereotypical "spoiled rich girl," who is someone he knew in school.
Josie had spent the past several hours asleep in a dressing room after backing out of shoplifting some merchandise in a half-hearted attempt to run away from her abusive father, Roger Roy McClellan (Noble Willingham
Noble Willingham
Noble Henry Willingham, Jr. was an American television and film actor.-Career:Willingham had appeared in more than thirty feature films, including Harry's War , Up Close and Personal , City Slickers , The Last Boy Scout , City Slickers II , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , Chinatown...
). Josie and Jim identify each other as kindred spirits and proceed to enjoy the freedom of having a store this size to themselves.
However, things become complicated when two incompetent crooks, Nestor Pyle (Dermot Mulroney
Dermot Mulroney
-Early life:Mulroney was born in Alexandria, Virginia, the son of Ellen, a housewife and amateur actress originally from Manchester, Iowa, and Michael Mulroney, a law professor at Villanova University School of Law, originally from Elkader, Iowa. He has a sister, Moira, and three brothers, Conor,...
) and Gil Kinney (Kieran Mulroney
Kieran Mulroney
Kieran Mulroney is an American actor known for his numerous television appearances. He is also a musician and screenwriter, along with his wife, Michele. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, where he graduated from T. C. Williams High School. His brother is actor Dermot Mulroney.-Television:* NCIS...
), break into the store and hold the teenagers hostage.
Cast list
- Frank WhaleyFrank WhaleyFrank Joseph Whaley is an American film and television actor known for his roles in independent films.-Personal life:Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York, the son of Josephine and Robert W. Whaley, Sr. He is half-Irish and half-Sicilian and grew up in Syracuse. He has two sisters and an older...
as Jim Dodge - Jennifer ConnellyJennifer ConnellyJennifer Lynn Connelly is an American film actress, who began her career as a child model. She appeared in magazine, newspaper and television advertising, before making her motion picture debut in the 1984 crime film Once Upon a Time in America...
as Josie McClellan - Dermot MulroneyDermot Mulroney-Early life:Mulroney was born in Alexandria, Virginia, the son of Ellen, a housewife and amateur actress originally from Manchester, Iowa, and Michael Mulroney, a law professor at Villanova University School of Law, originally from Elkader, Iowa. He has a sister, Moira, and three brothers, Conor,...
as Nestor Pyle - Kieran MulroneyKieran MulroneyKieran Mulroney is an American actor known for his numerous television appearances. He is also a musician and screenwriter, along with his wife, Michele. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, where he graduated from T. C. Williams High School. His brother is actor Dermot Mulroney.-Television:* NCIS...
as Gil Kinney - John M. JacksonJohn M. JacksonJohn Murice Jackson is an American actor, best known for playing Rear Admiral A. J. Chegwidden on the CBS series JAG....
as Bud Dodge - Jenny O'Hara as Dotty Dodge
- Noble WillinghamNoble WillinghamNoble Henry Willingham, Jr. was an American television and film actor.-Career:Willingham had appeared in more than thirty feature films, including Harry's War , Up Close and Personal , City Slickers , The Last Boy Scout , City Slickers II , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , Chinatown...
as Roger Roy McClellan - William ForsytheWilliam Forsythe (actor)William Forsythe is an American actor, known for playing "tough guy" roles. He is also a writer, and has several short stories that are set to be published.-Early life:...
as the janitor - John CandyJohn CandyJohn Franklin Candy was a Canadian actor and comedian. He rose to fame as a member of the Toronto branch of The Second City and its related Second City Television series, and through his appearances in comedy films such as Stripes, Splash, Cool Runnings, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and Uncle...
(uncredited) as the manager of the Target store