Opportunity Knocks

opportunity knocks is very funny. the first time i saw this movie back in 1990 or maybe early 1991 i didn't really like it that much. but then i saw it again in 1997 or early 1998. i loved it. i guess i couldn't understand this movie when i first saw it.i was only 8 or 9 when i first saw it.but now i understand it very well.all the jokes i get.it's carvey's best movie! it's very funny.it has a great plot to it.just all around great.i give this movie ***1/2 out of ****

Dana Carvey is one of the last great actors who came from Saturday Night Live. There are now only about 2 or 3 that are worth seeing their movies. This is classic of Carvey. It kept me laughing all the way through even though they tried to make it a sappy romance at one point. The cons were funny and so was his character. If you like seeing Carvey then this film is for you. If you don't I would suggest watching something different or some old SNL to see what he is like. Good movie all around I believe though.

This 1990 film was the first of two attempts by Dana Carvey to parlay his success on Saturday Night Live to the silver screen (Clean Slate - 1994). Carvey is better than expected, and while most of the laughs are from borderline sketch comedy better suited for television (such as his wide variety of impressions), his talent is great enough to make this movie watchable, and even enjoyable at times. The plot and script, while contrived and full of holes, does manage to serve it's purpose by moving the story along and getting Carvey from one punchline to the next. Carvey's efforts are even more significant given the notably weak performances turned in by the rest of the cast, including the usually adequate Robert Loggia.

If you like Dana Carvey, you'll dig this movie. If you don't, well, then it's pretty lame. But as a vehicle for Mr. Carvey, this story of a con-man weasling his way into an affluent family in order to fleece them, only to fall in love with their daughter, it's even better than it needed to be. The lines and scenes are all pretty good, if not somewhat non-offensive and restrained. The county club lunch with the old couple is classic and Carvey is about as charming as he gets. The wine ordering scene and the expression on his face when he finally takes a sip of the Chateau Lafite is practically worth the price of admission alone. "Hey Milt, think he's gonna come by and burp me after lunch?" Robert Loggia is also excellent as the successful but down-to-Earth CEO who is charmed by Dana's rough edges. Corny, predictable, and yet a totally worthwhile way to spend two hours with one of SNL's favorite sons.

"Opportunity Knocks" is very much a movie of its time. Apart from the fact that it stars then-hot Saturday Night Live star Dana Carvey, it has the general feel of an 80's comedy (though it was actually released early in 1990).

Carvey plays a struggling con-man who charms his way into the lives of an upper class family after they mistake him for a friend of their son. He soon hits it off with both the businessman father (Robert Loggia) and the reserved daughter (Julia Campbell), though his growing attachment is destined to end in the exposure of his deception. To make matters worse, he's got a dangerous loan shark hounding him for $60,000 that he doesn't have.

The acting is mostly decent but certainly nothing to write home about. Carvey gets ample opportunity to showcase his varied comedic skills, though he could have used some better writing to work with. Robert Loggia & Julia Campbell both do well in their respective roles but the rest of the cast is unremarkable at best and below par at worst.

Donald Petrie's direction is capable but not particularly memorable. He's actually directed a few above average rom-coms in his career but this one isn't one of them. The soundtrack includes a couple of good selections but these are overshadowed by some dated music and an embarrassing karaoke rendition of "Born to be Wild".

Ultimately, "Opportunity Knocks" is a passable time-waster but it too often strays into cliché and unbelievability. Even as a Dana Carvey vehicle, it pales next to the "Wayne's World" movies which were yet to come.