Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Risky Business

Risky Business is a teen comedy, crime drama directed by Paul Brickman and starring Tom Cruise alongside Rebecca De Mornay. The film follows high school senior Joel Goodsen as he navigates a wild, risk-filled week home alone that spirals into unexpected territory after meeting Lana, a call girl.

The film is laced with coming-of-age themes including sexual awakening. Like The Graduate before it, and The Girl Next Door after it, Risky Business tapped into that same formula: the sheltered young man lured into an adult world he’s unprepared for.

There’s no denying that the movie captured the vibe of the '80s perfectly. The soundtrack was signature for its era, echoing the synth-heavy scores that defined so many teen films of the time. In its day, it must have felt edgy, cool, and even provocative—but by today’s standards, the script came off a little corny and unrealistic. Additionally, some of the tension and humor don’t quite land the way they probably did for audiences in 1983.

That said, the acting held up decently. Cruise brought an awkward charm to Joel, and Rebecca De Mornay’s Lana was smart and effortlessly cool, with a slightly detached air that made her all the more intriguing. Their chemistry was solid, but the performances weren’t enough to fully modernize the movie’s dated sensibilities.

Overall, Risky Business is a classic snapshot of '80s teen rebellion and fantasy, but it's more of a nostalgic relic now than a film that resonates on the same level today. Often hailed as Tom Cruise’s breakout role, and while the film certainly helped cement his place in Hollywood, watching it today reveals a movie that hasn’t aged as gracefully as some of its peers. If you’re a fan of the era or curious about Cruise’s early work, it’s worth a watch but keep your expectations low.

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