RISKY BUSINESS. Directed and written by Paul Brinkman; produced by Jon Avnet and Steve Tisch for Geffen Co. Starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca DeMornay. Rated R.
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Growing up has always been pretty tough. One teenager's unique response to its physical, emotional and economic problems provides the basis for Risky Business.
In spite of the far-fetched, morally ambiguous, story-line, the characters are convincing and the movie is thoroughly enjoyable.
Joel (Cruise) is a good student and responsible "future enterpriser." But the pressures of impending graduation and emerging adulthood are beginning to close in. When his parents leave Joel in charge of the homestead for a week, the stage is set for some very maturing experiences.
Half inadvertently, Joel meets Lana (DeMornay) an attractive, contemporary call girl. She proceeds to lead him—sexually and economically—into the adult world.
The seamier side of Lana's lifestyle is glossed over, and her character isn't given as full a development as Joel's, but they are still a fascinating couple. Their sex scenes are nicely erotic— enthusiastic but tasteful.
But the contrast between Joel's innocence and Lana's experience is expressed in other ways as well. The only food he gets in the movie, for example, is what she fixes, since he has trouble thawing TV dinners. He doesn't know what his parents' posh suburban house is worth, but she can (and does) put a price tag on everything.
Joel is eventually forced to accept Lana's business as well as personal advice. To pay for repairs on his father's Porsche, Joel gets "his friends and hers" together. The result is a very exciting night for several teenage boys, a massive traffic jam in front of Joel's house, and a tidy profit for Joel.
Several different elements contribute to Risky Business' success. Cruise and DeMornay are likeable and convincing from the beginning. Joel and his friends worry a lot about the future, but the way Cruise handles Joel as both the awkward kid and the assured entrepreneur, his future in movies is bright.
The screenplay is witty and well-written. There is a good balance between action and introspection, as there is between the slapstick and subtle humor. Failure to go into the moral implications of prostitution (or even mention its illegality) could be a weakness, but the oldest profession makes a good vehicle for this satire of capitalism.
Risky Business is definitely entertaining, but it's also really interesting as well, unlike many movies which it superficially resembles. This combination makes it one of the summer's best.
August 10, 1983