[FilmReview]RiskyBusiness(1983)6.2/10

InPaulBrickman’steencomedyRISKYBUSINESS,JoelGoodson(Cruise)isadiligenthighschooler,whoisactuallyseenswottingathomeevenduringhisparents’absence,butabettedbyhisfriendMiles(Armstrong),sometimesonesimplyneedstohanglooseandpursuesomesexualgratification,JoelcontactsacallgirlLana(DeMornay),soonthingsstarttogetoutofhiscontrol,itiseasytoinviteherin,butaskhertoleave,that’sanentirelydifferentmatter.SexandmoneymakepatbedfellowsinBrickman’sscript,whenJoelhasanaccidentwithhisfather’sPorsche(somethingisclearlyoff-limitforhim,butevenforagoodboy,thetemptationtoflauntistoohardtosuppress),heishurtformoneytocovertherepaircost,andLana’scounselofaone-night-onlyescortbusinessisthequickestwaytoachievethatgoal,assimpleasthat,thewholeschemeoperatesswimmingly.ImmersedinthecontentmentofChicagoansuburbiaandthetypicalAmericanvalueofcapitalismandmaterialism-Joelattendsanextracurricularactivitycalled“FutureEnterprisers”topreparestudentsforopeningsmallbusiness,andintheevent,theyardstickoftheirscholasticachievementispurelymonetarygain,bythatstandard,Joel’sone-timebashatthatparticularlyshadywalkoflifeisheadandshouldersabovehiscompetitors,thefilmshamelesslyrevelsintheinstantgratificationthatthekillercombocanoffer,andrunsawaywiththeunflinchingmalegaze(itisaheteronormativeboy’sclub),itisalsoalarmingthatinspiteofJoel’seasy-earnedprofitisultimatelyextortedbyLana’spimpGuido(Pantoliano),yet,heisonlyslappedonthewristforthemischiefandevenbeingacceptedbythePrincetonUniversity,whichspeaksvolumesofthewholeoverachievingvaluethesocietyatlargeinsidiouslyespouses,thatisaquestionablemove.A20-year-oldTomCruisegrabsthisbreakoutopportunitywithflyingcolors,anall-AmericanteenthrobisrolledouttomarketRay-BanWayfarer,Porscheautomobileandthecall-girlfantasy,itishardtoimaginewhoeverelse,amonghispeers,could’vesteppedinhisshoeswithmorepizzazz,hisdancingandlip-syncinginthetuneofBobSeger’sOLDTIMEROCKANDROLLhasbecometheiconicclipofteenageabandon.Ms.DeMornayhasatrickierroletopulloff,gratuitouslysexualizedandperpetuallyaloofandindecipherable,herLanaisthegirlfriendexperiencewithacannymind,theoptimumidealizationofastraightman’sfantasytowardsaworkinggirl,whosepredilectionofmakingloveonboardazippingChicago“L”trainsummarizesthesignofthetimes:attention,speedandpleasure,ofwhichRISKYBUSINESSpinsitscolorstothemast.referentialentries:JohnHughes’FERRISBUELLER’SDAYOFF(1986,7.7/10);OliviaWilde’sBOOKSMART(2019,6.8/10).本文版权归作者他他所有，任何形式转载请联系作者。