Alright, settle in, rewind that tape mentally, and let's talk about a slice of pure, unadulterated 1987 ambition: The Secret of My Success. If ever a movie bottled the giddy, slightly naive go-go spirit of the mid-80s corporate dream, complete with power ties and a synthesizer beat driving its heart, this is it. Remember pulling this one off the shelf at Blockbuster? The cover practically buzzed with Michael J. Fox's boundless energy, promising a slick, funny ride up the corporate ladder. And boy, did it deliver, in its own uniquely Reagan-era way.
### Big Dreams, Big City, Big Hair
The premise is pure wish-fulfillment fantasy: bright-eyed Kansas farm boy Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox, radiating peak likability fresh off Back to the Future and Family Ties) arrives in New York City to conquer the business world. His dreams hit a snag faster than you can say "downsizing," leaving him starting at the absolute bottom – the mailroom of the monolithic Pemrose Corporation, run by his distant, ruthless uncle, Howard Prescott (Richard Jordan, perfectly cast as the intimidating corporate titan).
But Brantley isn't one to just sort mail. Seeing rampant inefficiency, he hatches a scheme so audacious it could only work in an 80s comedy: invent a phantom executive persona, "Carlton Whitfield," occupy an empty office, and start making deals, all while still delivering the mail as Brantley. It's a high-wire act involving quick changes in elevators, dodging suspicious bosses, and juggling two identities, often in the same hallway. Does it make a lick of logical sense? Absolutely not. Is it enormous fun to watch Fox scramble? You bet your leveraged buyout it is.
### The Fox Factor
Let's be honest, this movie is Michael J. Fox. His sheer charisma and masterful comedic timing are the engine driving this whole enterprise. He sells the physical comedy of the quick changes (reportedly quite demanding to film, requiring perfect timing and choreography) and the earnestness of Brantley's ambition, even when the plot veers into screwball farce territory. It’s fascinating to know that the original script, penned by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. (the same duo who gave us the high-octane thrills of Top Gun the year before!), was apparently darker and more cynical before Fox signed on. His casting prompted a rewrite, tailoring the film to his specific brand of energetic charm, turning potential satire into aspirational comedy. It clearly worked; the film, made for around $15 million, raked in over $110 million worldwide, cementing Fox's status as a bona fide movie star.
The supporting cast adds flavor, particularly Margaret Whitton as Brantley's seductive Aunt Vera, who gets some of the film's sharpest lines and embraces the era's extravagant style with gusto. Helen Slater (Supergirl, Ruthless People) plays Christy Wills, the high-flying executive Brantley falls for, embodying the era's "woman trying to make it in a man's world" archetype, though her character sometimes feels more like a plot device than a fully fleshed-out person. Richard Jordan brings genuine menace to Uncle Howard, making the stakes feel (slightly) real amidst the comedic chaos.
### Synth Beats and Shoulder Pads
You can't talk about The Secret of My Success without mentioning the sound. The soundtrack is pure 80s gold, driving the montages and setting the relentlessly upbeat tone. Remember that title track by Night Ranger? Or Yello's "Oh Yeah" popping up? It’s sonic nostalgia that instantly transports you back. Director Herbert Ross, known more for musicals (Footloose) and dramas (Steel Magnolias), keeps the pace absolutely relentless, particularly in the third act, which descends into full-on door-slamming farce that feels like a yuppie-fied stage play. It’s dizzying, bordering on exhausting, but undeniably energetic.
The film captures the look of the era too – the cavernous, impersonal office spaces (filmed in actual NYC office buildings, adding a touch of realism), the power suits with shoulder pads you could land a small plane on, the slightly fuzzy glow that seemed inherent to watching movies on CRT TVs back then. Watching it now, the corporate world depicted feels almost quaint, a pre-digital landscape where a mailroom kid could plausibly impersonate an executive armed only with charm and an empty office.
### More Than Just Mailroom Mischief?
Is The Secret of My Success a sharp satire of corporate greed? Not really. It’s more of a feel-good fantasy that uses the corporate world as a backdrop for its underdog story. The ethics are questionable, the solutions simplistic, and the climax utterly preposterous. But who cared back then? I remember renting this VHS, probably multiple times, completely swept up in Brantley's pluck and the sheer audacity of his plan. It tapped into that universal desire to beat the system, to prove the doubters wrong, all while getting the girl and the corner office.
It’s the kind of movie that makes you smile, even as you chuckle at its absurdities. The charm lies in its earnestness, its unwavering optimism, and Fox's incredible ability to make you root for him, no matter how ridiculous the situation. It’s a time capsule, for sure, reflecting the specific aspirations and aesthetics of its moment.
VHS Heaven Rating: 7/10
Justification: The film scores high on pure entertainment value and nostalgia factor, largely thanks to Michael J. Fox's dynamite performance and the energetic 80s vibe. It's funny, fast-paced, and has a killer soundtrack. Points are deducted for a plot held together by sheer willpower and coincidence, and characters who sometimes feel secondary to the star vehicle mechanics. It's not deep, but it achieves exactly what it sets out to do: provide a fun, aspirational escape.
Final Thought: Forget LinkedIn and quiet quitting; this was the 80s guide to career advancement – improbable, implausible, but propelled by enough charm and synth-pop to make you believe, at least for 110 minutes. Still a surprisingly fun watch if you embrace the glorious absurdity.