jenn-53

Call me strange, call me tasteless, but I found this film to be one of those movies that haunts me. Eric Roberts as the gung-ho Coke executive out to undo T.George McDowell's stranglehold on outback softdrink sales is just amazing. The scene near the beginning where Roberts is scanning an electronic map showing per capita Coke sales throughout Australia is brilliant, especially as they get down into the outback areas and discover that not only are Coke sales slim, but in one area, utterly non-existent.

Roberts' growing relationship with Greta Sciacci's character and DMZ, played wonderfully by child actress Rebecca Smart, weaves a romantic thread throughout the film, touching us even as we feel the intense need to thwap him over the head and make him see that this is the woman for him.

The scene of Coke trucks driven by Santa Claus costumed drivers pouring into T. George's compound is a killer, especially with that jingle (Sung by Neil Finn of Crowded House fame) roaring in the background. I can't understand why Coke has not purchased the rights to this jingle and used it in its advertising. Like another reviewer, I can't get that jingle out of my mind, even 15 years after seeing the movie.

I watched this film on a plane as I went to Australia, and was truly surprised to find myself engrossed in the story, considering that I intensely dislike Diane Keaton. The story of a young, mildly retarded young woman working to become independent and to stand on her own two feet was fascinating to me. Of particular interest was the romantic sub plot between the Carla and her (also retarded) boyfriend, whose idea of great music is anything by a marching band. The references to 'The Graduate' and the final outcome of the story are wonderful. Tom Skerritt, as the father who is trying to keep his wife happy while at the same time let his daughter test her wings, turns in one of the few memorable performances of his career.