SnoopyStyle
Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) is fresh in New York from Kansas. He loses his job before he starts when it disappears in a hostile takeover. New York is tougher than he ever imagines. In desperation, he visits his distant wealthy grumpy uncle Howard Prescott (Richard Jordan), and is given a mail room job. He falls for top executive Christy Wills (Helen Slater).It's a bad 80s take on corporate America. It lurches from ridiculous humor to serious. It seems to be heavily influenced by other 80s movies. Director Herbert Ross gives us crazy clothes, popular music interludes, and cheesy humor. The only good thing is the charismatic Michael J. Fox. His boyish charm is able to keep this mess on track.
sagei
Saw this recently and was overwhelmed by them.Movies, music etc are made for general consumption and yet manage to have incredibly personal meaning. Become an inseparable part of you without you even realizing it.First saw this as a kid. Good music. Story that any kid would want to believe.Liked Michael and he was good as ever but he barely registered.Slender, elegant blonde walked onto the screen.Heart stopped.Started again.And the world had changed.Helen Slater was in it.Knew she would never set eyes on me and could not love her less. Could not forget her either.She is now a pale shadow of her young self. As am I. They say there is no such thing as ghosts but movies have magic. As light and shadow danced on screen, just for a moment a beautiful girl and a boy who loved her flickered to life once again.That time is long lost, as are those people. But not that love.Just wanted some record of it other than my memory.Wish them well.Thank you.
Tim Kidner
Michael J Fox is always a bit of fun and this comedy is no different. However, it hasn't dated as well as it could have but the biggest fault is that Fox doesn't suit all the scenarios that well.He's supposed to be 24, but looks ten years younger. Whilst that's fine when he's the Kansas dreamer and an office junior - even when he's being seduced by the dragon that is 'Aunt' Vera Prescott (Margaret Whitton), but he looks faintly ridiculous when chasing and finally winning the sophisticated executive played by Helen Slater.Michael J is still a dervish of frantic activity and there are some priceless comic moments with Vera. Her husband (Richard Jordan) is slimy and devious and nasty enough to be the controlling big boss. And, of course there's the overall upbeat message about fulfilling one's dreams - if you work hard enough and get the lucky breaks.The movie still says a lot about the '80s boom'n'bust era and the corporate rat-race and there's some great views of New York City. I had seen this movie about ten years ago but it just doesn't quite do 'it' for me now. Hard to put a finger on why so I'm just going to have to blame the scenes with Helen Slater as that's the most obvious fault, to me.Lovers of Michael J however will always love this film and I appreciate that, but for me, it doesn't quite work.
LindaKirshnerNY
One could comment about how best this movie works. Or that it was symbolic of the materialistic 1980s and hence that is one of the reasons why it was so popular.In my opinion, this movie works as a light-hearted comedy and should be seen as such. If so, one could sit back and truly enjoy this film. Michael J. Fox plays a savvy and ambitious young man in The Secret Of My Success, which was aptly directed by Herbert Ross. It is a nice is a throwback to 50s-60s romantic comedies. Ross keeps things moving in an endearingly old-fashioned way. Fox is genial and charming. Helen Slater is a genuinely beautiful actress. Richard Jordan is good as the mogul. Margaret Whitton is all sexuality. All the supporting actors and actresses are also good. Carlo DiPalma's cinematography is comedy bright. David Foster's soundtrack works well. I must add that watching Mr. Fox is always a joy. He is a talented, kind and charismatic actor. I don't think that viewers are getting enough of him (understandably).
AD
