"Opportunity Knocks" is very much a movie of its time. Apart from the fact that it stars then-hot Saturday Night Live star Dana Carvey, it has the general feel of an 80's comedy (though it was actually released early in 1990).
Carvey plays a struggling con-man who charms his way into the lives of an upper class family after they mistake him for a friend of their son. He soon hits it off with both the businessman father (Robert Loggia) and the reserved daughter (Julia Campbell), though his growing attachment is destined to end in the exposure of his deception. To make matters worse, he's got a dangerous loan shark hounding him for $60,000 that he doesn't have.
The acting is mostly decent but certainly nothing to write home about. Carvey gets ample opportunity to showcase his varied comedic skills, though he could have used some better writing to work with. Robert Loggia & Julia Campbell both do well in their respective roles but the rest of the cast is unremarkable at best and below par at worst.
Donald Petrie's direction is capable but not particularly memorable. He's actually directed a few above average rom-coms in his career but this one isn't one of them. The soundtrack includes a couple of good selections but these are overshadowed by some dated music and an embarrassing karaoke rendition of "Born to be Wild".
Ultimately, "Opportunity Knocks" is a passable time-waster but it too often strays into cliché and unbelievability. Even as a Dana Carvey vehicle, it pales next to the "Wayne's World" movies which were yet to come.
