Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Tom CruiseJoel Goodson
- Rebecca De MornayLana
- Curtis ArmstrongMiles
- Bronson PinchotBarry
- Joe PantolianoGuido
- Richard MasurRutherford
- Shera DaneseVicki
- Raphael SbargeGlenn
- Janet CarrollJoel's Mother
- Nicholas PryorJoel's Father
Recommendations
- 100
Chicago Sun-Times
The very best thing about the movie is its dialogue. Paul Brickman, who wrote and directed, has an ear so good that he knows what to leave out. - 90
Chicago Reader
Taking off from the format of a typical teenage sex comedy, Brickman deepens the characters and tightens the situations, filming them in a dark, dreamlike style full of sinuous camera movements and surrealistic insinuations. Brickman found a tone I hadn't encountered previously - one of haunting, lyrical satire. - 88
TV Guide Magazine
Smart, stylish, and cynical about the values of its time, this movie aspires to be The Graduate for its generation and it comes pretty close. - 75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
An adolescent-oriented farce so finely tuned it projects beyond its narrow intended audience - it's not only for adolescents, it's for anyone who remembers what adolescence was like. [05 Aug 1983] - 70
Variety
Risky Business is like a promising first novel, with all the pros and cons that come with that territory. - 63
Boston Globe
Risky Business is the sleeper of the summer. It's a refreshing change from the usual dumb teenage ripoffs, the slickest American film since "Trading Places" and "War Games," and a strong directorial debut for Paul Brickman, who knows his way around teen fantasies. [05 Aug 1983] - 60
The New York Times
Risky Business improves as it goes along. - 60
Empire
It’s "Ferris Bueller" with an existential crisis. Very funny and very weird.
