Cinema de Gym: 'Opportunity Knocks'
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 3:00PM 
Kurt here with a new Cinema de Gym, the first to focus on a movie I never knew existed before my cardio session. Is everyone familiar with Opportunity Knocks? It's a 1990 comedy noteworthy for being the breakout film for SNL alum Dana Carvey. With his straw-blonde hair styled into what I remember to be an almost-mullet, Carvey plays Eddie Farrell, a California con man whose slovenly style (oversized shirts, khakis with sneakers) is used to convey an enviably carefree outlook (as opposed to Steve Carrells's version of the same style in this week's Crazy, Stupid, Love., which is used to convey unenviable cluelessness). I entered the movie just as it was starting (another first), and got to see the unremarkable opening credits blip onto the screen as Carvey strutted down the street in his lazy dude's attire. There was no telling why he was carrying a potted plant.
Turns out it was part of the character's introductory ruse, which also involves two nuns, a female pedestrian and a rich man in a flashy car who's tricked into believing he almost killed someone. I'm tiptoeing around the details because, in truth, I'm forgetting them, but what's important to note is the scene ably reveals the character's nature without heaps of exposition, and it also introduces his partner, Lou, played by Todd Graff, who's best known to me as the other-guy crew member in The Abyss. The buddies work as a team, scamming suckers in such amusing ways as pretending to be plumbers and then stealing the family TV. One house they come upon is empty, and while rooting through the rooms, they hear a voicemail from the intended housesitter, who must renege on his responsibility. Suddenly, the crooks are able to use the glorified suburban bachelor pad as their home base, its game tables and stocked fridge perfect for passing time between jobs. 
Something else happened involving a mobster and a stolen car, but that's about all the synopsis I'm prepared to dish out. Besides, what I took away from this movie wasn't plot details, but early '90s nostalgia. Ever the deliverer of exaggerated accents and impersonations (plenty of which turn up here), Carvey was a youthful 35 when this movie was released, making him 56 today. That's somehow an astonishing number for me to process, I guess because it's tough to imagine the goofy comedians of your youth as being over the hill. In any case, the thought marks the first time I've felt a pang of longing for the Wayne's World days, which closely followed in 1992. The same sensation is tied to my being charmed by the gloriously dreadful look of this movie – that grayed, washed out, VHS aesthetic that doesn't look any better just because it's been transferred to DVD. There's a whole catalog of late-'80s and early-'90s titles with that same oddly cozy drabness, which is funny, considering it's an era usually defined by neon and excess.
The future Mrs. Billy ChristensenThe strangest revelations the film offered came during the post-gym research process. A few clicks on Wikipedia unleash a crazy batch of facts regarding what the cast and crew have been up to since. We're all pretty up to speed on Carvey (who can forget The Master of Disguise?), but how about co-star Julia Campbell? She's a busy TV actress, but you know her as none other than A-Group leader Christy Masters from Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. And director Donald Petrie? Most recently, you have him to thank for Welcome to Mooseport, Just My Luck and My Life in Ruins. As for Graff, he boasts the most startling resume by far, at least to this moviegoer. A musical theatre vet, the actor-turned-director is the guy behind Camp and Bandslam, and his next project – get this – is Joyful Noise, a 2012 gospel musical with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. How do I not know about the latter? Here's what its Wiki page says: “Two strong-minded women are forced to cooperate when budget cuts threaten to shut down a small-town choir.” ...I'm sorry, what were we talking about again?
Conclusions?
1. Yesterday's casual is today's embarrassment, as evidenced by Carvey and Carrell.
2. Sadly, comedians age just like everybody else.
3. Ugly is endearing if you happen to be a movie from the late-'80s or early-'90s.
4. Todd Graff is our new Steve Antin – an out former actor about to unveil the unofficial sequel to Burlesque.
Oh, what to ask you? This post is one mixed bag. What jumped out at you? I can only guess...
Reader Comments (4)
Credited as "Saturday Night Live's Dana Carvey" on the poster.
I remember the general thinking in the early 90's that the Hollywood powers would make sure that Carvey's fame would transcend SNL. Of course then came the realization that a guy who basically just does impressions doesn't really have many other mediums than sketch comedy (I wonder if The Dana Carvey Show would have been a better fit on cable if cable had been back then what it is now).
Anyway I remember Carvey being acceptably charming in this and Robert Loggia playing basically the same role he had in Big.
I don't remember this movie existing at all. but you're so right about that drab vhs look. Although, it'll take some time for people to notice but a lot of today's movies are pretty sorry looking too. so many movies don't even seem to try for an aesthetic other than point and shoot.
anyway. had fun reading this but i must say i will not believe the existience of JOYFUL NOISE until i see productino photos! sounds too fun to be true.
Thanks for chiming in, guys. I knew this one wasn't exactly going to be a comment magnet. I neglected to mention Robert Loggia, as his resume wasn't so surprising. Joyful Noise is coming, baby -- Mama Morton meets Double-D Dolly. It sounds so silly-awful-great I keep smiling about it.
Apparently, Joyful Noise exists. I caught Dolly in concert in Dallas, where she showed a few stills, talked about how much she liked Queen Latifah, and even sang one of the songs she had written for the movie.