Cocktail

I saw another review which said, 'it never bores' and then gave it 2 out of 10. It's on that same basis that I'm giving it 7 out of 10. It's entertaining escapism from beginning to end. I mean, it is drivel or course, but that's not the point. It's okay for 80s movies to be drivel, as long as they hold our attention, and take us back to that time in a fond way. That's really why most of us watch 80s movies isn't it? It's to remember the energy and the feel of that period, when life seemed simpler in many ways. We knew who we were and what we were meant to do. And that's what this film does....the characters know who they are, and what they are meant to be doing....even when they don't. Even existential crisis in the 80s was simpler (in films at least). It's a good trip back in time.

Apart from the few moments of real drama, this film is pure popcorn fun. It's not one of Tom Cruise's best but its late 80s yuppie era tone is perfect for conveying our protagonist's struggles to become a successful businessman.

If only real life was like this surprise success with Tom Cruise flashing his teeth in what was to become his standard role as a young whippersnapper on the make while scoring with rich chicks.

The busy story (adapted by Heywood Gould from his original novel) is energetically directed by Australian newcomer Roger Donaldson, and although Cruise is officially the star, the best performance is inevitably that of Donaldson's fellow antipodean Bryan Brown (described by Cruise as looking like a guy "who dyes his hair and shaves with a Brillo").

It's all very eighties, lines like "The Donald Trump of the Cookie Business" having since acquired an unforeseen resonance.

"Cocktail" from 1988 is one of the films that solidified Tom Cruise's superstar status. He stars in this film with Bryan Brown, Lisa Banes, and Elizabeth Shue.

Cruise plays Brian Flanagan, a young man with a lot of dreams of making big bucks. After getting out of the service, he relentlessly seeks a job in New York City, finally snagging one as a bartender in a upper east side, trendy bar, where he works alongside Doug Coughlin, his boss.

Before long they're an attraction in and of themselves, throwing bottles to one another, finishing off each other's drinks, all the while dancing, turning, and gyrating.

Brian goes to business school as well, but given his late nights, it's exhausting and not very fulfilling.

He and Doug both have dreams of owning their own bars, and the two become great friends. However, after a huge fight, Brian goes to Jamaica and runs a bar there, making good money and falling for Jordan, a pretty waitress (Shue).

Then Doug shows up, having married rich, and when a very classy, upscale woman (Banes) comes to the bar, Doug bets Brian that he can't get to first base with her. He does, and Jordan sees him do it, and drops out of the picture.

Back in New York, Brian finds out living with a high-powered woman is no picnic - in fact, it's pretty humiliating -- and he runs into Jordan again.

"Cocktail" doesn't have much of a plot, but it has two very attractive leading men, sexy Bryan Brown and, of course, Cruise, handsome even with his old nose and looking quite different than he did in "The Color of Money." He's very charming,likable, and exudes a lot of youthful energy. He has some emotional moments, too, which he handles well.

"Cocktail" is a light film aimed at a younger crowd than I was even in 1988, but anyone can enjoy its swinging New York atmosphere, lazy Jamaican sun, great soundtrack, and two wild bartenders.

Underneath it all, it's about the dreams of youth and the reality of being out in the world. That's a message everyone learns pretty quickly.

Tom Cruise stars as Brian Flanagan, who is fresh out the army and finding that landing an executive job in the big city isn't as easy as he thought. Taking on a course for a business degree, he winds up working part time at a cocktail bar under the tutelage of bar tending philosopher Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown). A new world is about to open up for both of them.

Right, I have the softest of soft spots for this movie. That doesn't mean I'm not aware of its many failings, most notably the heavy weight of predictability that pounds down on the head from the very first frame. But as simple as it may be (oh this is plot line simplicity decorated in flashy booze bottle twiddling), and the obvious cash in on Cruise's box office appeal that it was (note that his next film was the considerable shift to Rain Man), it's fun (thanks to Bryan Brown's mugging) and sweetly romantic (thanks to Elisabeth Shue being sweetly romantic). Yeah it's a hard sell I know! But Cruise charms in a way that has his haters swigging the Alabama Slammers by the dozen, and guys! Kelly Lynch pops up wearing a thong. Yeah I'm pretty shallow where Cocktail is concerned, sue me...

All together now, "This magic moment" 6.5/10