Taking Care of Business (1990)

0% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
48% of users liked it
(6,137 ratings)

James Belushi and Charles Grodin team up for this variation on the Prince and the Pauper. Belushi plays Jimmy Dworski, a convicted car thief, serving time in a minimum security prison. But when Jimmy wins a pair of tickets to the World Series from a radio call-in show, he can't resist walking out of… More James Belushi and Charles Grodin team up for this variation on the Prince and the Pauper. Belushi plays Jimmy Dworski, a convicted car thief, serving time in a minimum security prison. But when Jimmy wins a pair of tickets to the World Series from a radio call-in show, he can't resist walking out of jail, particularly when the warden won't even let the inmates watch the series on television. Grodin plays rich workaholic Spencer Barnes, who, when his wife walks out on him right before a long-planned vacation, leaves his datebook in an airport telephone booth. Happening upon Spencer's datebook is Jimmy, who simply intends to return the datebook to Spencer for a 1,000-dollar reward. But when he finds the datebook contains his credit cards, Jimmy assumes Spencer's identity, living the good life and dating the boss's daughter, while making his way to Malibu to return the property to Spencer. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Arthur Hiller
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 17, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Apr 2, 2002

Critic Reviews

James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Typically bland, light-on-laughs mix-up farce
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
A series lame jokes and clunky plot machinations that would strike as cynical were they not so obviously desperate.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A funny and entertaining movie, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Tim S

Funny, but nothing to write home about.
Anthony L

Silly film but one of the last great comedies of its kind of that era. Great days!
James A

Not only does the movie have Jim Belushi but it has Charles Grodin. Thats a true pairing of unfunny hacks!
Deb S

A great little comedy from the early 90's with James Belushi playing a likeable con who escapes from prison to attend the World Series while getting his fellow in-mates to cover it up. Whilst on the outside he stumbles upon uptight business executive Spencer Barnes (Charles… More
A great little comedy from the early 90's with James Belushi playing a likeable con who escapes from prison to attend the World Series while getting his fellow in-mates to cover it up. Whilst on the outside he stumbles upon uptight business executive Spencer Barnes (Charles Grodin) Filofax personal organizer and ends up assuming his identity living it up in the lap of luxury turning Spencer's life upside down along the way. Now all he needs to do is break back in before the warden realizes what has happened because Belushi only has two days to go before his release from prison.
RJ M

Charles Grodin has always been great at playing the straight man in comedies. He's usually the put upon character who doesn't quite understand what is happening around him. Here he plays an ad exec whose entire life is contained between the covers of his filofax. When he… More
Charles Grodin has always been great at playing the straight man in comedies. He's usually the put upon character who doesn't quite understand what is happening around him. Here he plays an ad exec whose entire life is contained between the covers of his filofax. When he accidentally loses it, his life quickly falls in to chaos. Jim Belushi plays an escaped car thief who find the filofax as he tries to make his way to the World Series to watch his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs. He quickly assumes Grodin's identity and live the high life while on the lam from the law. It's mistaken identity to the nth degree as Belushi begins to unravel everything Grodin has worked for. But he may doing him a favor while doing it. It's a twist on the "Trading Places"-type of comedy where the lower class slob shows the upper crust how to lighten up. What would you do if you were suddenly given the keys to paradise? Would you try to fit in, or make that world fit around you? Jim Belushi will never be his brother, the late great John Belushi. But he never tries to be. He deliver the smart aleck lines with skill, and make the character a likeable oaf. Grodin is great as his foil. A man who loses total control of his life, but finds himself again in the process. Sounds preachy for a comedy, but it really isn't. It's a fun ride, and director Arthur "Silver Streak" Hiller keeps things moving quickly, balancing the rise and fall of each characters luck in the process. It may not be "Trading Places", but it's fun all the same.
Barry L

Very funny film at the time.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            James Belushi as Jimmy Dworski

            Charles Grodin as Spencer Barnes

            Anne De Salvo as Debbie

            Loryn Locklin as Jewel

            Stephen Elliott as Walter Bentley

            Veronica Hamel as Elizabeth Barnes

            Hector Elizondo as Warden

            Mako as Sakamoto

            Gates McFadden as Diane

            Louisa Abernathy as Guard

            Andrew Amador as Prison Reporter

            Selma Archerd as Woman in Pro Shop

            Tony Auer as Prison Guard

            Elisabeth Barrett as Diane's Assistant

            Michael Blue as Beach House Cop

            Bert Blyleven as Himself

            Marjorie Bransfeld as Tennis Club Receptionist

            Joe Bratcher as Mediator

            Andre Rosey Brown as Heavy G

            Burke Byrnes as Prison Guard

            Ron Chenier as Beach House Cop

            Kristen Amber Citron as Twin

            Baldo Dal Ponte as National Anthem Singer

            Buddy Daniels as Gang Member

            John DeLancie as Ted

            Stanley de Santis as Car Rental Man

            Sandra Eng as Prison Reporter

            Ken Foree as J.B.

            Mark Grace as Himself

            Howie Guma as Sakamoto's Assistant

            Darlene J. Hall as Jeep Driver

            Michele Harrell as High Quality Receptionist

            Whitby Hertford as Yuppie Son

            Lenny Hicks as Mediator

            J.J. as LeBradford

            Jill Johnson as Tennis Court Girl

            John Marshall Jones
            
            Janet Julian as Woman on Plane

            Dan Kern as Snooty Man

            Joe Lerer as Ira Breen

            Michael McNab as Main Gate Guard

            John P. Menese as Chauffeur

            Stu Nahan as Radio Reporter

            Tom Nolan as Mr. Wright

            Hank Robinson as Umpire

            Tee Rodgers as Stadium Guard

            David Ruprecht as Yuppie Dad

            Marte Boyle Slout as Brenda

            Leslie Suzan as Malibu Jail Woman

            Tom Taglang as Waiter

            Joe Torre as Himself

            Terrence E. McNally as Hamilton

            Thom Sharp as Mike

            Chris Barnes as Luggage Boy

            Tommy Morgan Jr. as Gang Member

            Michael Kinney as Malibu Jail Guard
See full cast