Review of Risky Business (1983) by Erin C — 06 Sep 2010

The film that launched a thousand sex comedies. While there's a large amount of disbelief that must be suspended, Risky Business earns its classic standing with strong performances (Cruise gets most of the attention, but De Mornay is very good and Pantaliano is fun if not quite menacing in a limited role), light but effective humor and well-captured teen awkwardness.

The film's satire of American capitalism remains as resonant in the uncontrolled corporate post-Bush era as it was during the me-first Reagan 80's. Risky Business may be a teenage sex movie but, like Lana, it remains classy: the high-priced call girl of a prostituted genre.

There are moments when Joel's character seems unbelievable until remembering, he's a teenager and therefore prone to acting braver than he is. The consequences never feel completely realistic, but Risky Business's portrayal of innocence and idealism sold for capital definitely does.