Risky Business and All The Right Moves are the two films that launched Tom Cruise's career as brat pack film star. Unlike so many of his contemporaries from the Eighties, he's proved to have staying power and will no doubt continue to do so.

All The Right Moves established Cruise as a dramatic actor, but Risky Business is a fun comedy about a hormone driven teenager who when the folks go away from his Chicago suburban home and he's left to play, he gets himself in all kinds of problems. First dialing up call girl, Rebecca DeMornay and then not having enough coin of the realm to pay her. Then getting mom's treasured glass egg stolen. And then getting the family car driven into Lake Michigan.

But Cruise and DeMornay, who is having trouble with her pimp Joe Pantoliano, hit on the brilliant idea that there's a market out there for his group of eager overachievers. And Tom's house becomes quite the swinging brothel.

Risky Business turns out to be pretty funny business. Best scene in the film involves Tom with Princeton interviewer Richard Mazur. You've got to love the way this boy gets into the Ivy League. Second best scene involves Tom and the family car as it plunges into the lake and then gets hoisted out.

Tom's definitely proved to have staying power in show business. I can see his character in Risky Business growing up to be Jerry Maguire.

Joel Goodsen (Tom Cruise) is a horny suburban Chicago teenager who is always concerned about his future. His folks are going out of town, and Miles (Curtis Armstrong) tells him to say "What the F***". His parents don't understand and they set up an interview with Princeton. He is part of the Future Enterprisers with Barry (Bronson Pinchot) but doesn't necessarily like it. Miles calls up a transvestite for Joel and he-she offers him Lana (Rebecca De Mornay). It's a memorable night but in the morning she wants her $300. She takes off with the crystal egg and he has to get it back. When he finds Lana in the city, they go on the run from his pimp Guido (Joe Pantoliano). Lana won't leave when Guido shows up. When the Porsche goes into the drink, he needs money to fix the car. He ends up in business with Lana, but Guido just won't let her go.

This is a classic coming of age movie. Of course there is the classic and often referenced Tom Cruise sliding around in his underwear. However this is more than that in this movie. Joel is reminiscent of Ben Braddock from 'The Graduate'. He wonders if the plans that his parents have for him is right and he asks if all everybody wants is money. "Doesn't anyone want to accomplish anything or do we just want to make money?" Yet he doesn't run away from the money. He just doesn't have a clue about his future. There are the great dream sequences, memorable lines, and the general originality. Who could forget about the Porsche? The performances are terrific and the most vexing question of all is what ever happened to writer/director Paul Brickman. His limited success after this is the most disappointing thing in this movie.

First of all, I feel this was far fetched. Tom Cruise came along and made a name for himself (remember That Old Time Rock and Roll). HIs entrepreneurship and lack of direction, and pressure from his family,lead to some choices that could be deemed somewhat ridiculous. I know it's just a movie, but I don't see him the least bit heroic (and I generally like Tom Cruise). The conclusion is formula and that detracts from its effectiveness.