Cocktail

A talented New York bartender takes a job at a bar in Jamaica and falls in love.

• Director: Roger Donaldson
• Genre:Comedy / Drama / Romance
• Runtime:99 minutes

Cast

Tom Cruise : Brian Flanagan
Bryan Brown : Doug Coughlin
Elisabeth Shue : Jordan Mooney
Lisa Banes : Bonnie
Laurence Luckinbill : Mr. Mooney

After leaving the Army and moving to New York City, Brian Flanagan (Cruise) gets a part-time job as a bartender at T.G.I. Friday’s while studying for a business degree (which he needs to get a job in marketing). At first Brian is a terrible bartender, revealed in a montage of his screw ups. Over time, he learns the tricks of the trade from his boss/mentor Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown). Brian and Doug soon become very close; Doug readily assumes a mentor role over the young and naïve Brian, and rains advice and opinions down upon him. His advice takes a familiar structure as he usually begins most of them with “Coughlin’s Law”. An example of his expert advice, which actually turns out to be quite poignant, is “Coughlin’s Law: Drink or be gone!” Other pearls include: “Bury the dead, they stink up the joint.” and “Anything else is always something better.”

While Brian has high personal aspirations, Doug is leery of the notion of starting their own bar together. Doug intends to call his bar: Cocktails & Dreams.

Brian and Doug sing a song about their favourite drink, Gordon’s Gin. “Gordon’s is my favourite drink, It’s very easy to sink, sink, sink. And we’ll drink it now, we’ll drink it then. We’ll drink it till we cause mayhem. Mayhem, mayhem, mayhem.”

Eventually, Brian and Doug’s bar-tending act becomes popular and they end up working at a trendy nightclub catering to New York’s wealthy and elite, the type of establishment where yuppies spout poetry from the top of the rafters for all patrons to hear. As their popularity rises, Brian becomes the focus of attention from a sultry brunette named Coral (Gina Gershon). Quickly, they elevate their friendship into a wild sexual relationship. Glib Doug doubts that any woman would be so attracted to such a “loser” as Brian and during a free throw shooting competition where Brian hits 10 free throws in a row, Doug bets him Coral will leave him by week’s end, essentially doubting there is anything special about the seemingly perfect relationship shared between the two. Unbeknownst to Brian, Doug lies to Coral about secrets being shared by Brian about her, and secures his bet by bedding the hot brunette. Brian is very upset and fights with Doug in the bar/on the job, essentially ending his informal partnership with the older, wiser, and now relaxed, Doug. Read more

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