Risky Business ★★★★

    We've all experienced periods in our youth when reckless activities were pursued over responsibility. Decisions based on pure teenage hormonal instinct, instead of rational choices based in logic. Of course, this is the beauty of adolescence. Each individual journey taking us from childish daydreams into adulthood with the flicker of an eye.

    "Risky Business" is a film that captures this voyage in a comical, yet melancholic fashion. It follows the events of a suburban area teenage boy, as he develops his sense of individuality through sex, adventure, and exploration. This is a picture that delves into the mind of adolescent obscurity, all while entertaining us with a wonderful style of its own. Starring Tom Cruise, in a role that blossomed his career, "Risky Business" is a sensational depiction of youth in the most vital development stage.

     "My parents are going out of town."

    These are words that every teenage boy only dreams about. It lends the opportunity for underage drinking, parties, and the notorious borrowing of the parent's automobile. Joel Goodson is a high school senior in the city of Chicago. He lives in an upper-class neighborhood, surrounded by friends of the same upbringing. When our film begins, Joel is a rather uptight and reserved young man who dreams of being accepted into Princeton. He is left with stern instructions to not use his father's Porsche and to not tinker with the expensive stereo system.

    Thus, we are brought to a pivotal moment in the film and in Joel's life. A conversation with Miles, a seemingly intelligent friend of Joel's, will emerge three words that summarize the attitude of every rebellious teenager around the world. Sometimes you just have to say "what the fuck." To all intents and purposes, this phrase is not as crude as one might think. It is important in life to occasionally take a risk, for the unknown can be quite stimulating.

     Joel begins his rebellion with minuscule acts of defiance that include divulging into his parent's liquor cabinet and blasting the stereo system while dancing half naked around the house, culminating in one of the most memorable scenes of Tom Cruise's career. The Porsche is driven heedlessly and all that remains is the act of sexual gratification. After a miscommunication with an advertised call girl, Joel comes into contact with Lana, an irresistible blonde working girl, who will steal Joel's heart and become more trouble than he could ever imagine.

    Tom Cruise is unforgettable as the sexually incompetent and tense young man, who eventually finds himself through careless acts of mischievousness. There are times when it becomes obvious that some actors were born to play certain roles. Joel Goodson was the fateful performance that put Cruise on the map. After playing minor roles in films such as "The Outsiders," Cruise breaks free from his cocoon and becomes the actor he was meant to be.

    To provide us with the portrayal of the young and beautiful love interest of Joel is Rebecca De Mornay. In her first prominent role to date, De Mornay brims with seductiveness and carries herself with a sense of sophistication. Of course, this is not the most sought after role for any established actress; however, De Mornay gives off an air of guiltlessness, for a girl who is seemingly anything but.

    This is a picture that centers on the theme of growing awareness and the loss of innocence. We are subtlety revealed pictures of young Joel among the chaos of his precipitous actions to remind us of this fact. We essentially watch him overcome the insurmountable task of discovering himself while also battling the guilt associated with sex. This is discerned through a comical fashion, as Joel is caught in a precarious, yet fictitious scene with a babysitter.

    And who can forget the crystal egg belonging to Joel's mother. It is first seen mounted in a prestigious fashion, with no sense of imperfection--not even a fingerprint. Throughout the film, it is lost and is only recovered towards the end, much like Joel's self-awareness. Thus, it is easy to see that when Joel's mother notices a small crack on the inside, that it is a symbol of Joel's change acquired through his teenage revelations. A life altering transformation in a time when growth is inevitable.

    Regardless of whether or not you have experienced a turbulent time in your life such as this, it is safe to say that "Risky Business" is a film that will evoke the feeling that you wish you had. And what better way to enjoy this experience than the backdrop of 1980s Chicago.