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71 out of 112 people found the following review useful: Theoretically, Flawless in its Design, 13 September 2005 Author: JFHunt from Manhattan
Cocktail is a lot of things. It's a classic love story about finding the right "rich chick". It's a sorted tale about an aging down on his luck bartender who finds a reason to live. And it's also a feel good film. It teaches you how to respect the desire. Be careful around Elisabeth Shue. "And pretty soon, days get shorter and shorter, nights longer and longer, before you know it, life is just one long night with a few comatose daylight hours." And in the end, no matter how shitty you are to people, they will always forgive you. Bryan Browns masterpiece and Cruise is electric. It's another one of those movies you could watch over and over. And in a little while, your want to watch it again. If anyone hasn't seen this movie and doesn't plan on it, than they are just retarded. Do yourself a favor, run down to the store and buy it. You'll thank me.
12 out of 19 people found the following review useful: I watch this movie every year..., 18 June 2002 Author: scaron-2 from Sherbrooke, Canada
I don't know what it is with this movie but I watch it every years and it just feels good! I think the movie magic happens with the incredible casting. You see and feel the emotions of every character. It's an ordinary story that is believable and that is the reflection of an era.
5 out of 9 people found the following review useful: "Shake It To The Left, Shake It To The Right", 26 September 2008 Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
God only knows in my lifetime I've dealt with a lot of bartenders, I still do now when I go in a place and only order non-alcoholic beverage. But unless it was a topless joint where the bartenders were required to do more than pour and converse and maybe toss out an occasional drunk, I never did see one do the Hippy Hippy Shake. And here Tom Cruise does it tandem with Bryan Brown.Still Cocktail is an entertaining enough film with Tom Cruise now settled into the parts he usually plays as an all American social climber. Tom's fresh out of the army and his first stop is his uncle Ron Dean's bar in Queens. He probably could get a job with his uncle, but Tom aims for higher things.The problem Tom has in looking for a job is that old adage, what kind of work are you out of? He tries in all kinds of places, but he has no experience. An exhausted Tom arrives at an upscale bar presided over by Bryan Brown and the two of them hit it off. Brown teaches Tom all the tricks of the trade in bartending and hustling.Bartending on the Upper East Side is a whole different world than the working class of Queens. In fact right around the same time Cocktail was out the tragic murder of Jennifer Levin by preppie killer Robert Chambers was introducing via the tabloids of the world of the yuppie bars of that vicinity. It was the world of Cocktail brought to a gruesome reality.The women come and go for both Cruise and Brown. Success turns out to be ephemeral. The key scene in the film for me is that where Brown after marrying East Side princess Kelly Lynch and her father's money has backed him in opening the most posh establishment on the East Side, he confesses that he doesn't know the first thing about really running a business. Running a bar/restaurant is a lot more than pouring drinks and dispensing wisdom. Turns out Brown hasn't got that much wisdom and his realization of that leads to tragedy. It's a beautifully played scene, the best I've ever seen from Bryan Brown.Elizabeth Shue as Tom's East Side princess is very appealing, but I also like Ron Dean as Cruise's uncle who really does have a lot of wisdom and he doesn't think that he has it simply because he pours drinks.Brian Flannagan in Cocktail became one of Tom Cruise's staple roles and further endeared him as our number one superstar. Still I've yet to see a real bartender do the Hippy Hippy Shake.
Average...., 1 December 2009 Author: namashi_1 from India
Roger Donaldson directed 1988 flick 'Cocktail' is at best an average watch. A stereotypical affair.Cruise plays a talented and ambitious bartender who aspires to working in business and finds love while working at a bar in Jamaica. Though the film was a box office Super-Hit back in the day, I really didn't love the film. 21 years ago people loved it, but someone like me, who watches 'Cocktail' now that to for the first time... won't be gung-ho about the film.Cruise is fantastic throughout. He carries the film on his shoulders, and is the prime reason why this film doesn't bore. Bryan Brown's character & performance are top-notch. Elisabeth Shue is a everlasting beauty, and 'Cocktail' proves that fact once again. As far as her performance goes, she's natural to the core.'Cocktail' is average work... watch it for Cruise, Shue & Brown's note-worthy performances.
6 out of 12 people found the following review useful: The Best!, 26 August 2003 Author: jrh12586 from the Midwest
Essentially, `Cocktail' is nothing more than your average ‘popcorn flick'. However, it is a darn good one. What was surprisingly nice about this film was that it actually had a mature amount of depth to it. It is also overflowing with big-name stars such as Tom Cruise (Risky Business), Elizabeth Shue (Adventures in Babysitting), and Bryan Brown (The Thorn Birds). But, the supporting characters happen to be so fascinating that at times it's hard to focus on anything else. In addition to this, the film has glorious cinematography- especially the scenes set in the tropics. Another thing `Cocktail' has going for it is its soundtrack: great 80s music!! At its heart, `Cocktail' is nothing more than the same romantic fluff you have seen hundreds of times before- but it is presented in such a nice package that who really cares?
1 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Cocktails, cuties and Cruise., 12 April 2009 Author: Michael O'Keefe from Muskogee OK
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Shake, shake, shake that tail feather! The ever smiling and constant conceited Tom Cruise plays Brian Flanagan, an apt business school drop out in search of that perfect "hot chick" with enough money to bankroll his future life of luxury. A get rich scheme is manifested with the meeting of veteran bartender Doug Couglin(Bryan Brown), who shows the young Flanagan the ins and outs of mixing drinks while dancing and juggling rum bottles. These antics will surely attract the bar babes...bar babes with money. The swaggering duo hit the skids at a swanky disco, and Flanagan decides to head to Jamaica in search of his fame and fortune. If Cruise's "monkeyshines" are not enough incentive to sustain your happiness...get lost in the fabulous soundtrack that features the likes of: The Beach Boys, Jimmy Cliff, John Mellencamp, The Georgia Satellites and Robert Palmer.Rated PG-17 for sexual content, drug use and strong language. The cast includes: Gina Gershon, Elisabeth Shue, Kelly Lynch, Lisa Barnes and Laurence Luckinbill.
3 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Fantasy Theater, 31 August 2008 Author: tracyterrymalibu from Malibu, Ca.
All the chicks in New York City come to see a hot bartender during happy hour.Tom Cruise flips bottles of hard liquor in the air spilling bourbon on anybody within 5 feet while he recites poetry(?) and flirts with the nearest bimbo. Tom is having a great time and even meets the girl of his dreams (Elizabeth Shue) when things start getting complicated.One of the most implausible story lines ever is so stupid, it's actually entertaining. Bryan Brown co-stars as Tom's best buddy who shares in the bottle-flipping shenanigans.Who wants a drink?
5 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Watch it twice and you'll be watching it for life !!, 7 February 2006 Author: Dave from England, UK
I'm not going to lie, the first time I watched this movie, I thought its OK, nothing to write home about. Then I found myself watching the film a week later, and I thought it was awesome from that moment. I find this happens a lot, don't judge films on the first watch, watch them again and then comment! Lost In Translation and Con-Air are films which also fell into the category of being OK on first watch, but awesome from there on after.From the very start of the film when the name 'Cocktail' flashes up in pink neon, then 'Starship - Wild Again' begins to play, you have an opening scene that makes you feel good and makes you wanna keep watching.I've often had day-dreams of moving to a far away place to start a fresh career, and Brian Flannagan (Cruise) does just this. Its not an path to easy-money as Brian soons finds out,there are pitfalls at every corner, and working at a cocktail bar seemed like a daunting, last job you'd want in the world. But he seems to make the role of barman very appealing, maybe its the free and easy women that seem to flock I dunno, either way, I'd give bar-tending a go after watching this movie. Having a boss like Doug (Brian Brown), who's basically a chilled out, the kind of boss you could have a laugh with every-shift kinda guy, would also make the job that bit better.He clearly didn't set out to be a full time bar-tender,thats why he enrols at the local New York College. Myself, being a student can relate to the scene where the lecturer is talking about the 'money multiplier'. I've often been sat in lectures thinking what the hell is this guy going on about? As people all around you seem to be engaged and nodding at everything he says.When he leaves New York and heads to Jamaica, I was kind of thinking the movie would go downhill, and you do kind of miss New York, in other movies they would keep linking back to New York, but with Brian having no connections with New York (having fallen out with Doug) it would of seemed inappropriate to keep going back there.The sun, sea and money of Jamaica is very appealing but there's only one thing that makes the trip worthwhile and thats when he bumps into Jordan (Shue). What a beauty! In my view Top Gun was a great film but lacked a bombshell, no offence Kelly McGillis, but she didn't really do it for me. In Elisabeth Shue, Cocktail hit the jackpot.When he returns to New York, you get the feeling its last chance saloon time, where he really can't afford anymore slip-ups. He patched things up with Doug but you get the feeling he would would rather be independent then working for his buddy again! And after messing things up with Jordan, going with a rich, but much older women, he finds himself in limbo when that falls through.Once Doug commits suicide, there is only one option he can now pursue and thats winning back Jordan. Its a typical chick flick ending, but I still think the film rocks. The soundtrack is under-rated in my view, I love the music in Jamaica 'Shelter from Your Love' and 'Oh, I Love You So' are both great songs.To conclude, this movie is a must see for any aspiring wannabee millionaire business-men, like myself. I would also like Elisabeth Shue and a friend like Doug as well, but beggars can't be choosers.!
6 out of 13 people found the following review useful: Typical Hollywood entertainer: unsurprising, empty and enjoyable, 10 September 2002 Author: Mika Pykäläaho (bygis80@hotmail.com) from Järvenpää, Finland
It's been years since I saw Roger Donaldson's "Cocktail" for the last time. I remember it well enough to say that it was almost phenomenally standard love story/drama from the producers of Hollywood. It's actually hard to name a flick that's more basic in its own genre. Usual stuff or not, there was nothing wrong with it as long as the audience doesn't expect anything profound or ingenious. One user described "Cocktail" as "entertaining trash". I couldn't possibly agree more. This was one of Tom Cruise's first hit movies (alongside with "Top gun", "The Color of the money" and "Rain man"). It was his late 80's "pretty face" period. "Born on the fourth of July" started Cruise's career as a more serious actor and look where we are now. He played the leading part in Stanley Kubrick's final masterpiece in 1999 and the man still going strong.
0 out of 2 people found the following review useful: That's Fifty Bucks You Owe Me!, 30 November 2008 Author: Bolesroor from New York, NY USA
"Cocktail" is one of those things in life you know is bad for you... like fast food, alcohol, women... and yet somehow, you can't resist. Just a look at the poster tells you what you're getting: Tommy-Boy posing under neon in front of liquor bottles... in fact, staring at the poster for fifteen minutes is the same as watching the movie. But Cocktail's value lies in its honesty: its trash that knows its trash, so you can sit back and enjoy the fun, unlike many of Mr. Cruise's somber and self-important pictures that were to follow.This was the 80's, and ambition was inherent in humanity, at least according to Hollywood. You couldn't be just a bartender, or even a bartender who wanted to be a bar-owner. You had to be a bartender who wanted to own the ultimate bar in existence, full of gorgeous gals and movers and shakers and enough cash to choke a goat... a place that served cocktails AND dreams. And what would you call such a corny but profitable joint? "Cocktails & Dreams," of course.And so the plot is loosely based on Cruise's character's attempts at realizing his financial goal to open his dream-bar. Along the way he learns the way of the bartender from zen-mentor Bryan Brown, falls in love with earnest Elizabeth Shue, and even experiences life as a (gasp!) kept man when he hooks up with a wealthy older woman. The inevitable consequences follow, in no particular order: nosebleeds, the flipping of liquor bottles, unplanned pregnancy, flunking out of school, fist-fights, suicide, improvised poetry performances, the hippie-hippie shake, betrayal, more flipping of liquor bottles and the Beach Boys' classic Kokomo."Cocktail" is the cinematic equivalent of a novel so trashy, so silly, that there's something in it for everyone and no one can put it down. Too bad more film aren't this honest... we could have more fun at the movies.GRADE: B-
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