Risky Business Movie Review
"My name is Joel Goodson. I deal in human fulfillment. I grossed over eight thousand dollars in one night. Time of your life, huh kid?"
-Joel Goodson
I recently watched Risky Business, only ever hearing about that scene where Tom Cruise is sliding around in his underwear to "Old Time Rock and Roll". I knew nothing about the film or why it was such an 80's classic. After experiencing it for myself it made so much sense. It is an 80's movie from start to finish and there is no denying it! From the music to their style of dress, I think the film does a great job of capturing the era. But there's a lot going on under the exterior of Risky Business and it's worth delving into. The film is written and directed by Paul Brickman and stars Tom Cruise as Joel and Rebecca De Mornay as Lana in this romantic comedy/coming of age story that might actually surprise you.
Joel is an average high school kid who lives with his wealthy parents in a suburb of Chicago. Having a father who attended Princeton University, he's always urging Joel to go the extra mile to improve his chances of getting into his alma mater and this includes an after school activity that requires Joel to create a small business in cooperation with his peers. Joel is definitely up to the task but has other things on his mind like hanging out with his friends and planning on what he'll be doing while his parents are away for the weekend.
Once his parents are gone his best friend Miles convinces him to do something crazy, something he wouldn't have the opportunity to do if his parents were home. While it seems like Joel builds up the courage to follow through with the advice, he caves last minute. Luckily, or not so luckily depending on your perspective, Miles makes an appointment with a prostitute to show up at Joel's house that night. With no possible way of canceling, Joel begins to embrace the fact that he's going to be having company for the night, until she shows up at his door step. Jackie is actually a very tall, masculine transvestite which serves for a pretty hilarious back and forth. But after getting paid, she recommends Lana to Joel, a girl who may be more of what he is looking for. And that she was.
Unable to sleep, Joel decides to call Lana, she comes over and after a little awkward small talk, they have sex all night, or that's what we're supposed to think. When they wake Lana demands $300 for her services which forces Joel to go to the bank and make a withdrawal. From here on out is where the film really picks up and takes you through all it's twists and turns! When he returns home with the money, Lana is gone and so is his mother's glass egg, which they made a point of emphasizing in the beginning of the film. Joel manages to find Lana and in the midst of demanding the egg back is interrupted by her violent pimp Guido. Joel escapes Guido after an adrenaline-pumping car chase in his dad's Porsche. The next morning before going to school, Joel finds out that his mother's glass egg is at Guido's place with the rest of Lana's stuff. After getting back from school he finds Lana in his house with some of her prostitute friends and she suggests that they could make a lot of money together, since Joel has a lot of young friends who would be very willing customers. Joel initially rejects the idea, but after a series of events that leads to his dad's Porsche ending up in lake Michigan, Joel has no other way of paying for the repairs.
Lana and Joel's relationship follows an interesting trajectory, but they both change each other's lives. Joel learns valuable lessons about life and relationships, being such a young and inexperienced boy. Lana on the other hand is reminded of youth and innocence and what other paths and choices she has in life. It's interesting how Joel was able to grow even if it had to be through getting hurt in the process. The operation at Joel's house is a massive success and he makes eight thousand dollars that night, enough to fix his dad's car and pay off Guido who pulled a fast one on them. It was the classic ending where everything is fixed perfectly seconds before mom and dad get home, completely clueless to the mayhem that took place while they were gone, Risky Business is a great coming of age story and Joel was such an easy character to relate to, despite the ridiculous circumstances her was thrown into. He learns plenty of life lessons and proves to everyone that he's capable of more than average, It's the perfect blend of comedy and drama to make for a fantastic story. I give Risky Business and 8 out of 10.
Joel is an average high school kid who lives with his wealthy parents in a suburb of Chicago. Having a father who attended Princeton University, he's always urging Joel to go the extra mile to improve his chances of getting into his alma mater and this includes an after school activity that requires Joel to create a small business in cooperation with his peers. Joel is definitely up to the task but has other things on his mind like hanging out with his friends and planning on what he'll be doing while his parents are away for the weekend.
Once his parents are gone his best friend Miles convinces him to do something crazy, something he wouldn't have the opportunity to do if his parents were home. While it seems like Joel builds up the courage to follow through with the advice, he caves last minute. Luckily, or not so luckily depending on your perspective, Miles makes an appointment with a prostitute to show up at Joel's house that night. With no possible way of canceling, Joel begins to embrace the fact that he's going to be having company for the night, until she shows up at his door step. Jackie is actually a very tall, masculine transvestite which serves for a pretty hilarious back and forth. But after getting paid, she recommends Lana to Joel, a girl who may be more of what he is looking for. And that she was.
Unable to sleep, Joel decides to call Lana, she comes over and after a little awkward small talk, they have sex all night, or that's what we're supposed to think. When they wake Lana demands $300 for her services which forces Joel to go to the bank and make a withdrawal. From here on out is where the film really picks up and takes you through all it's twists and turns! When he returns home with the money, Lana is gone and so is his mother's glass egg, which they made a point of emphasizing in the beginning of the film. Joel manages to find Lana and in the midst of demanding the egg back is interrupted by her violent pimp Guido. Joel escapes Guido after an adrenaline-pumping car chase in his dad's Porsche. The next morning before going to school, Joel finds out that his mother's glass egg is at Guido's place with the rest of Lana's stuff. After getting back from school he finds Lana in his house with some of her prostitute friends and she suggests that they could make a lot of money together, since Joel has a lot of young friends who would be very willing customers. Joel initially rejects the idea, but after a series of events that leads to his dad's Porsche ending up in lake Michigan, Joel has no other way of paying for the repairs.
Lana and Joel's relationship follows an interesting trajectory, but they both change each other's lives. Joel learns valuable lessons about life and relationships, being such a young and inexperienced boy. Lana on the other hand is reminded of youth and innocence and what other paths and choices she has in life. It's interesting how Joel was able to grow even if it had to be through getting hurt in the process. The operation at Joel's house is a massive success and he makes eight thousand dollars that night, enough to fix his dad's car and pay off Guido who pulled a fast one on them. It was the classic ending where everything is fixed perfectly seconds before mom and dad get home, completely clueless to the mayhem that took place while they were gone, Risky Business is a great coming of age story and Joel was such an easy character to relate to, despite the ridiculous circumstances her was thrown into. He learns plenty of life lessons and proves to everyone that he's capable of more than average, It's the perfect blend of comedy and drama to make for a fantastic story. I give Risky Business and 8 out of 10.
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