Hard as it is to believe, I'd sort of forgotten about Jim Belushi having a film career. For a while during Taking Care of Business, I kept thinking I'd seen him in something recently (which I haven't), then I realized... his performance in the movie is a rip on Bill Murray. Expressions, tone of voice, mannerisms. They all play like Bill Murray.
Of course, I doubt Bill Murray could have done anything with the role either.
Taking Care of Business is one of those movies I watched a lot when I was twelve. The last time I wanted to watch it, almost ten years ago, someone stopped me. I never realized the favor he did me.
The problem is the script. Charles Grodin has absolutely nothing to do except be a jerk to Anne De Salvo, who's very funny. Grodin's playing his caricature here and Arthur Hiller can't direct his redemption scene. Well, he doesn't have one. Jill Mazursky and J.J. Abrams's script is really terrible, just awful. It'd be weak as a sitcom.
Strangely, there is some excellent acting in the film from the supporting cast. Mako, in particular, is hilarious as the Japanese businessman who thinks Belushi is funny (it's good someone does, I suppose--and there are a few funny Belushi moments, but most are obscene and obvious). Loryn Locklin's character is probably the worst written, but she's funny and appealing. It's surprising she didn't go on to anything. Hector Elizondo's good too. Of course, there are some terrible performances too. Veronica Hamel and Gates McFadden are both the pits.
The script's biggest problems have to do with plotting, but it's also just dumb. Belushi's a convict who escapes for the World Series and all the other prisoners band together to help him do it. It's like a Disney prison movie--oh, wait a minute... it is a Disney (Hollywood Pictures) prison movie.
The signs of trouble start from the opening credits, which are poorly done animated ones.
Given how bad the movie is, I won't even point out not having concluding scenes between the respective romantic couples was--narratively speaking--a pea-brained move. I just realized I didn't get around to talking about the thirty-five minute first act either. Too bad.
CREDITS
Directed by Arthur Hiller; written by Jill Mazursky and J.J. Abrams; director of photography, David M. Walsh; edited by William Reynolds; music by Stewart Copeland; produced by Geoffrey Taylor; released by Buena Vista Pictures.
Starring James Belushi (Jimmy Dworski), Charles Grodin (Spencer Barnes), Anne De Salvo (Debbie Lipton), Loryn Locklin (Jewel Bentley), Stephen Elliott (Walter Bentley), Hector Elizondo (Warden Toolman), Veronica Hamel (Elizabeth Barnes), Mako (Mr. Sakamoto), Gates McFadden (Diane Connors), John de Lancie (Ted Bradford Jr.), Thom Sharp (Mike Steward), Ken Foree (J.B.) and John Marshall Jones (LeBradford Brown).
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