Haven't we all done this before?
I am sure at some point in my Netflix organizing, I had a good reason to put The Secret of My Success in my que, but I can't seem to remember why!
Watching a few of these golden oldies from the eighties got me to thinking about how our culture used to view the corporate business world as compared to today.
Secret of My Success, Trading Places, Working Girl, Wall Street, Baby Boom, just to name a few, are all examples of the idealism in which we once viewed the suit-and-tie, corporate boardroom lifestyle. Hollywood told us that anyone could make a fortune in the business world with just a little common sense and an assumed identity!
Do they even make movies like this anymore? I am hard pressed to think of any modern movies that similarly create the illusion of a "Get Rich Quick" corporate world.
What kind of fortune making schemes do Americans aspire to today? My best guess is that young people have transferred their adoration of the yuppie business world, to an adoration of celebrity life. Movies released over the past decade often revolve around the lives of celebrities, some fictionalized, for example: Notting Hill, Almost Famous, Americas Sweethearts, and American Dreamz. Not to mention television reality shows like American Idol.
In both of these cases, whether it is in a corporate office or on a stage, singing in front of thousands, the general theme is that fame and fortune can be easily acquired.
Isn't that the whole underlying idea that appeals to us lazy Americans?
Americans want it all, but they shouldn't have to work too hard or sacrifice anything.
Here is my list of 80's Businessman Get Rich Quick & Easy Movies
- Wall Street
- Trading Places
- Risky Business
- Working Girl
- Secret of My Success
- Baby Boom
- Big Business
- Big
- Mr. Mom (Teri Garr is a mom turned tuna fish advertising genius)
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