MovieChat Forums > Cocktail (1988) Discussion > Since IMDB will not accept my review of ...

Since IMDB will not accept my review of this film, here it is.


Sometimes I like to review old movies given that I don’t always have money to make it to the theater. I’ve picked COCKTAIL today because this movie is a giant among movies (a giant, pathetic loser) and never ceases to amaze me with its inexhaustible supply of horrible lines, horrible acting, senseless gratuity, and wastage of celluloid. I’m not sure in which genre to place this movie so I’ll create one: Romantic bartending melodrama.

I think Tom Cruise is ok, and most of his movies are ok (ok means ok—not real good, or pretty cool, simply ok). After you watch this movie, you will wonder how he maintained a career after this and didn’t become the Tim Thomerson of straight-to-video Blockbuster dustbins. You might be asking, “who the hell is Tim Thomerson? That’s exactly the point. I’ll give Cruise credit, he’s got something going on.

As indicated the movie is about bartending and romance. Tom Cruise is a hotshot New York bartender who woos all the women, and men, with his ability to spin bottles and pour drinks at the same time while spouting monosyllabic nonsense, recite poetry, and flash all 32 Crest Whitening formula-treated teeth. First of all; who gives a *beep* about bartenders who spin bottles behind their back and through their legs in the process of mixing a gin and tonic. If I order a gin and tonic, just give me a gin and tonic as fast as possible. I’m there to drink and I need immediate alcoholic refreshment. Reminds me of a show I saw of a bunch of meatheads who actually compete in Las Vegas for “Best Bartender in the World”. They actually practice in their garages spinning bottles around with rubber bars and balancing Jack Daniel’s liter jugs on their heads. One time I was tripping on acid at a bar and bottles started spinning all over the place, been there done that, don’t need it. Here’s a memorable line for you—guy walks into the bar and sees Tom Cruise and his buddy’s bottle spinning brilliance and says, “You’re the hottest bartender in town, you need to work for me”. And so he does.

While there he gives his unforgivable performance of “The Last Bartender Poet”. This qualifies as one of the most comedic and reviling episodes in Hollywood history and makes me embarrassed to be an American and someone who speaks the English language. I can’t remember the whole thing but it goes something like this at the end: “I got your Alabama Slammers, I got your Tijuana Mamas I got your Caribbean Windjammers, I got your Hangover Mananas
Yes, I’m the last bartender poet, and you better know it”. Something like that. He gives this performance in the middle of loud music and dancing at a New York bar. Everyone hushes and gives their ear to this. After he’s through everybody whistles and claps and he bows, at that point I started laughing and guffawing.

First of all, who would think that that was cool?? Second of all, how much idol-praise does Hollywood think that common moviegoers and common people will give. I can just see the director while making the movie, “Its Tom Cruise, they’ll eat this up.” Wrong buddy, I thought it sucked and it makes me think that the people who made this movie, wrote this movie, produced this movie, and the people who even made coffee for the aforementioned are a bunch of fricking losers and should be unemployed right now. They should live in misery and be forced to watch this scene every day of their lives as compensation.

Normally I am a lot more longwinded about films this awful, but I just want to move on from this experience and never look back again, so I’m gonna wrap it up. Don’t ever watch this movie! Unless you and a bunch of drunk friends have a rainy day and absolutely nothing to do. It will make you laugh but after its over you find you can discuss it for days. Tempers will flare, conspiracy theories will be formed, and you will walk away in a state of bewilderment at the negative power of this movie. I’m not gonna give away the end of the movie not because it will be a spoiler, just because its a waste of my time.

I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out.

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[deleted]

Well it appears that IMDb is on a new old-thread-deletion binge, so I wouldn't be surprised to see this one go, even though it was still on the first page of the film's forum before this bump. So anyone who wants to save this wonderful piece of forum history, do it now.


What ever happened to the time when directors realized that taking risks is a bad thing?

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[deleted]

bump

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Jamaica munnn

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Cocktail is a despicable film with dispicable characters. The OP is right. Its the film I love to hate. Brian Flanagan is the protagonist I love to hate just like Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid. Theres so many reasons that this film sucks. Only the braindead masses who need spoonfed off the director cant see this.

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Oh wow you are so wrong.

Cocktail is a misunderstood, underrated classic.

Charles roolz - in 7 days it will be exactly 9 years since this epic thread was created.

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how does he make any tips considering he gets out 2 drinks an hour?



His name...was Julio Iglesias!

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He gets tipped every time he smirks which is about 5 times a minute.

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he gets tipped for smirking? is that a new york thing?


'You can calm down a fool before you can resurrect a corpse.'-John Thompson

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This thread is now over 10 years old.

Nearly as old as the U.S. of A itself.

Jog on

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I love you, IMDB Cocktail thread. Thanks for the memories.

"If you are mean enough to steal from the blind, help yourself."

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This film is not misunderstood. The reality to anyone with a bit of intelligence and foresight is that Flanagan is an insufferable moron. A guy who is cheesy and annoying in everything he says and does, wreckless, makes no friends (apart from Coglin), has unnecessary bursts of aggression and has almost no integrity or morals. It baffles me how people cant see that.

Jordan is his equal. She is clingy, reckless, annoying, emotionally immature and an extremely bad reader of men. As her father said she is not very wise to the ways of the world. Their first kissing scene by the sea was ammatuer and revolting to watch.

Apart from Coglin having his moments, there isnt anyone in this film that is truly funny, charismatic, charming, interesting or redeeming. Its one of those films i love to hate and watch to laugh at

The OP CharlesCastle has got this absolutely right. It isnt even a 'so bad its good' or 'unintentionally funny' film like Kickboxer. It really is a 'so bad and annoying' film that it really is so bad and annoying.

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thank coughlin's law.



The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.-James Madison

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the bar is open!


🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

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I'd like to officially welcome Cocktail to 2016.

Cocktail 2. Or Cocktail - The Remix

Tom Cruise as Brian Flanagan is now pulling beers for winos in a dingy bar on skid row. An ageing Lothario, he is reduced to picking up barflies; women so smashed they often soil his bed.

There follows a redemptive narrative as Brian re-engages with his estranged son/daughter and opens up a new cocktail/piano bar for highfalutin types.

Brian's poetry has progressed, and the highlight of any night is when he treats his customers to a reading.

He finds love with the jazz singer in his bar who is 15 years younger than him.

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[deleted]



your opinions and details on the movie are factually correct but i still enjoyed the movie, its what hollywood does best go figure

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I watched this last night and came here to post about it. I thought I'd find crickets. So glad this thread exists!

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Bump

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The bar is Open!!

When theres no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.

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Excuse me, do I have "your review sucked" written on my forehead?


My people skills are fine. It's my tolerance of morons that needs work.

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