Risky Business
Directed by Paul Brickman
- romance
- comedy
- drama
The story
Meet Joel Goodson, an industrious, college-bound 17-year-old and a responsible, trustworthy son. However, when his parents go away and leave him home alone in the wealthy Chicago suburbs with the Porsche at his disposal he quickly decides he has been good for too long and it is time to enjoy himself. After an unfortunate incident with the Porsche Joel must raise some cash, in a risky way.
What it’s like
Warm suburban light, sunlit streets and a glossy Porsche gliding past big suburban houses, then the cooler blue of a Chicago night and the hazy pink-and-neon glow of a lakeside after-hours world. Paul Brickman's 1983 comedy moves with the buoyant, synth-flecked energy of early-eighties pop: Tangerine Dream-style electronic pulses and Phil Collins-era sheen underline the quick cuts and mirror-reflection compositions that make every room feel like a showroom. The vibe is breezy, cheeky and sly, with a flicker of unease that never quite turns dark. Its pacing is brisk and playful, shifting from giddy daydream sequences to tense, awkward encounters, and its central arc follows a buttoned-up teenager who learns to loosen up and take on responsibility for his own choices. Intensity is moderate: sexual content and innuendo are frequent but not explicit, there is some profanity and a few sharp confrontations, and violence is minimal and brief. It suits a late-night comfort watch, a playful weekend double bill, or a nostalgic evening, and it is for viewers who enjoy eighties coming-of-age comedy with a wry, knowing edge.
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