Amazon.co.uk Review
First and foremost a star vehicle for Tom Cruise, this paper-thin Horatio Alger story of a young bartender with dreams of get-rich-quick success is notable only for Cruise's immense likeability in contrast to a creaky plot and thinly drawn characters. Cruise plays Brian Flanagan, a young entrepreneur and ladies' man who with his mentor (Bryan Brown) takes the New York bar scene by storm. Through setbacks and tragedy, Brian eventually realises there's more to life than a quick buck, and fights for the woman he loves (Elisabeth Shue). Despite its shortcomings, a worthwhile viewing for Tom Cruise fans. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
The little guy's finest hour!.......2007-09-16
Brian heads to the big apple in search of fame and fortune by pushing cocktails onto the city's rich and beautiful. Besides his wonderfully cheesy ode to the cocktail at the swanky nightclub, the best scene is when Brian and Doug artfully toss liquer bottles to the tune of Robert Palmer's classic 'Addicted to Love'. Pure unadulterated 80s pleasure! Some might object to the movie's allusions to souless lifestyles motivated by the pursuit of money and gorgeous women, and this certainly parallels similar patterns in movies such as 'Pretty Woman' and 'Born Yesterday'. This is partly symptomatic of the era in which the film is set, so rather then hissing and booing at the movie's premise it is more realistic to regard its sentiments within context. Furthermore, ultimately just like Melaine Griffith's character in 'Working Girl', Brian rejects the lifestyle ex-business partner Doug succumbs to. 'Cocktail' flirts with serious topics such as alcoholism, over indulgence and the rich/poor divide however at heart it is a feel good movie about triumph over adversity and getting the girl! Make yourself an Old Fashioned, and sit back and enjoy a young and handsome Cruise. They just don't make movies like this anymore and although it is somewhat of a guilty pleasure, it is a pleasure none the less!
RAISE YOUR GLASSES.......2007-07-29
A classic film from the end of the eighties. Nothing too deep or even controversial about it, it is a simple story that gives good entertainment from talented actors. Brian Brown almost steals the show with his portrayal of the "beer is for breakfast" cynical New York barman. Definitely one of Tom`s better movies.
First class film.......2007-03-17
In this tour de force of beverage preperation,vending, and development,a fresh faced Cruise delivers an acting masterclass!(Empire magazine August 89 describing it as "The emergence of a great!,Cruise emotes undiluted vitriol from the get go!,surely the role that will cement his rightful place alongside De Niro,O'Toole and Burton."
Based upon Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie'~the film charts one mans lonely battle against predjudice,as the Southern town(Baton Rouge in all but name,..and location)struggles to accept Cruise and his 'Fancy Dan drinks',.the suspicion that the bartender may have a communicable disease simmers beneath the surface like so much soap,left unspoken upto the films heartrending close,where Cruise 'finally' accepted as capable? saves the lives of the mayors three sons by administering antihyperglycaemic lactose !,.. the constituent of many of his 'fancies'or cocktails!....as Billie Holliday plaintively croons 'Strange fruit' Tom delivers his powerful closing speech to the transfixed townsfolk,it is a little syrupy as he sobs uncontrollably to an apoplectic staccato fireball finale!,his throwaway comment "let dance be dance,food be food,love be love..but by God,.. never let a cocktail be JUST a cocktail" perhaps says more about that grabbing,selfish,decadent decade than a hundred glib lines from 'Ferris Bueller'~ Aaron Rose March 2007
Cocktail.......2005-11-23
“Cocktail” with its fantastic tagline of “When he pours, he reigns” is an archetypical film of the 80’s with its high importance placed on money and materialism whilst the fashions and the soundtrack does the rest.
Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) an ex-serviceman with big dreams of making millions returns to New York ready to take on the giants of Wall Street. When he is turned down by company after company he answers a card in the window advert for help in a local downtown bar. The head barman, a rough and ready, but wholly likeable Australian named Doug Coughlin takes the young rookie Flanagan under his wing and teaches him not only the way to mix and serve cocktails but the rules and philosophy of life behind the bar. The two develop a stunning drinks routine and they are headhunted by a nightclub owner to work for him. All is going well until Brian starts to see a young woman who in the age-old tradition comes between the two friends with the result that Brian leaves New York for the golden sands of Jamaica where he’s heard a talented barman can make thousands of dollars.
Three years pass and Brian has struck up a developing romantic friendship with a young girl visiting the island called Jordan Mooney. Things are ticking along nicely when who should appear again but Doug and now he’s married with a trophy wife on his arm. Mind you the wife isn’t just beautiful she incredibly rich and has backed Doug to set up his own New York bar, and Doug offers Brian the job of head barman.
In a night of raucous drinking and macho posturing Doug bets Brian he couldn’t bed a rich older woman. Brian stupidly takes on and wins the bet and of course Jordan spots him and promptly leaves the island to return to New York.
The film is as fake and as obvious as the 80’s shoulder pads and is pretty clearly nothing but a stage to show off the young good looks of Tom Cruise. There are a million and one plot holes and the storyline more than once relies on the stupidity of the characters.
But that’s not to say the film isn’t an enjoyable romp through the sights and sounds of yesteryear and it’s well filmed and on the whole quite well acted. Cruise shows all the potential that has made him the super star he is, Elizabeth Shue is delightfully good looking and it’s a shame she didn’t go onto bigger things. The best performance though belongs to Bryan Brown as Doug who has the most interesting role and makes the most of opportunity.
Cocktail.......2005-07-13
This film is Tom Cruise at his best. Cruise is a bartender who juggles with booze and likes to hang around with the ladies. he tries for other jobs but fails to have a degree. During his life he has many relationships yet there is one girl who is worth lots to him(over $10000). Cruise acts brilliantly as the funny and stupid young man. Very good film for the 1980's.
Amazon.co.uk Review
First and foremost a star vehicle for Tom Cruise, this paper-thin Horatio Alger story of a young bartender with dreams of get-rich-quick success is notable only for Cruise's immense likeability in contrast to a creaky plot and thinly drawn characters. Cruise plays Brian Flanagan, a young entrepreneur and ladies' man who with his mentor (Bryan Brown) takes the New York bar scene by storm. Through setbacks and tragedy, Brian eventually realises there's more to life than a quick buck, and fights for the woman he loves (Elisabeth Shue). Despite its shortcomings, a worthwhile viewing for Tom Cruise fans. --Robert Lane, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
The little guy's finest hour!.......2007-09-16
Brian heads to the big apple in search of fame and fortune by pushing cocktails onto the city's rich and beautiful. Besides his wonderfully cheesy ode to the cocktail at the swanky nightclub, the best scene is when Brian and Doug artfully toss liquer bottles to the tune of Robert Palmer's classic 'Addicted to Love'. Pure unadulterated 80s pleasure! Some might object to the movie's allusions to souless lifestyles motivated by the pursuit of money and gorgeous women, and this certainly parallels similar patterns in movies such as 'Pretty Woman' and 'Born Yesterday'. This is partly symptomatic of the era in which the film is set, so rather then hissing and booing at the movie's premise it is more realistic to regard its sentiments within context. Furthermore, ultimately just like Melaine Griffith's character in 'Working Girl', Brian rejects the lifestyle ex-business partner Doug succumbs to. 'Cocktail' flirts with serious topics such as alcoholism, over indulgence and the rich/poor divide however at heart it is a feel good movie about triumph over adversity and getting the girl! Make yourself an Old Fashioned, and sit back and enjoy a young and handsome Cruise. They just don't make movies like this anymore and although it is somewhat of a guilty pleasure, it is a pleasure none the less!
RAISE YOUR GLASSES.......2007-07-29
A classic film from the end of the eighties. Nothing too deep or even controversial about it, it is a simple story that gives good entertainment from talented actors. Brian Brown almost steals the show with his portrayal of the "beer is for breakfast" cynical New York barman. Definitely one of Tom`s better movies.
First class film.......2007-03-17
In this tour de force of beverage preperation,vending, and development,a fresh faced Cruise delivers an acting masterclass!(Empire magazine August 89 describing it as "The emergence of a great!,Cruise emotes undiluted vitriol from the get go!,surely the role that will cement his rightful place alongside De Niro,O'Toole and Burton."
Based upon Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie'~the film charts one mans lonely battle against predjudice,as the Southern town(Baton Rouge in all but name,..and location)struggles to accept Cruise and his 'Fancy Dan drinks',.the suspicion that the bartender may have a communicable disease simmers beneath the surface like so much soap,left unspoken upto the films heartrending close,where Cruise 'finally' accepted as capable? saves the lives of the mayors three sons by administering antihyperglycaemic lactose !,.. the constituent of many of his 'fancies'or cocktails!....as Billie Holliday plaintively croons 'Strange fruit' Tom delivers his powerful closing speech to the transfixed townsfolk,it is a little syrupy as he sobs uncontrollably to an apoplectic staccato fireball finale!,his throwaway comment "let dance be dance,food be food,love be love..but by God,.. never let a cocktail be JUST a cocktail" perhaps says more about that grabbing,selfish,decadent decade than a hundred glib lines from 'Ferris Bueller'~ Aaron Rose March 2007
Cocktail.......2005-11-23
“Cocktail” with its fantastic tagline of “When he pours, he reigns” is an archetypical film of the 80’s with its high importance placed on money and materialism whilst the fashions and the soundtrack does the rest.
Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) an ex-serviceman with big dreams of making millions returns to New York ready to take on the giants of Wall Street. When he is turned down by company after company he answers a card in the window advert for help in a local downtown bar. The head barman, a rough and ready, but wholly likeable Australian named Doug Coughlin takes the young rookie Flanagan under his wing and teaches him not only the way to mix and serve cocktails but the rules and philosophy of life behind the bar. The two develop a stunning drinks routine and they are headhunted by a nightclub owner to work for him. All is going well until Brian starts to see a young woman who in the age-old tradition comes between the two friends with the result that Brian leaves New York for the golden sands of Jamaica where he’s heard a talented barman can make thousands of dollars.
Three years pass and Brian has struck up a developing romantic friendship with a young girl visiting the island called Jordan Mooney. Things are ticking along nicely when who should appear again but Doug and now he’s married with a trophy wife on his arm. Mind you the wife isn’t just beautiful she incredibly rich and has backed Doug to set up his own New York bar, and Doug offers Brian the job of head barman.
In a night of raucous drinking and macho posturing Doug bets Brian he couldn’t bed a rich older woman. Brian stupidly takes on and wins the bet and of course Jordan spots him and promptly leaves the island to return to New York.
The film is as fake and as obvious as the 80’s shoulder pads and is pretty clearly nothing but a stage to show off the young good looks of Tom Cruise. There are a million and one plot holes and the storyline more than once relies on the stupidity of the characters.
But that’s not to say the film isn’t an enjoyable romp through the sights and sounds of yesteryear and it’s well filmed and on the whole quite well acted. Cruise shows all the potential that has made him the super star he is, Elizabeth Shue is delightfully good looking and it’s a shame she didn’t go onto bigger things. The best performance though belongs to Bryan Brown as Doug who has the most interesting role and makes the most of opportunity.
Cocktail.......2005-07-13
This film is Tom Cruise at his best. Cruise is a bartender who juggles with booze and likes to hang around with the ladies. he tries for other jobs but fails to have a degree. During his life he has many relationships yet there is one girl who is worth lots to him(over $10000). Cruise acts brilliantly as the funny and stupid young man. Very good film for the 1980's.
UK DVD:
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