I revisited this movie in 2018 because I seemed to remember it had some redeeming qualities. I was wrong. This movie is f---ing DUMB! It's like the stylized film adaptation of some Wall-Street-frat-boy's rushed first-draft script written on napkins at the bar of a TGI Friday's. It's the purest cinematic nightmare of the worst traits of the 80s projected through a cocaine lens. Just shockingly moronic. Cocktail would make a great double-feature with Less Than Zero if your goal was to experience nauseous shame about the 1980s.

Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) is fresh out of the Army. He's studying business and working at his uncle's bar. He gets a job working for Doug Coughlin (Bryan Brown) in an Upper Eastside bar. He's horrible at first. His school work suffers as his bar work improves. Doug intends to open his own bar. The duo starts working at a trendy nightclub. Photographer Coral (Gina Gershon) takes an interest in Brian. She suggests working at bars in Jamaica. Doug dislikes the relationship. When Doug breaks them up, Brian is furious and ends their partnership. Next, Brian is bartending in Jamaica. He starts a relationship with vacationer Jordan Mooney (Elisabeth Shue) who is a waitress in NYC. Doug shows up married to rich flirtatious Kerry (Kelly Lynch). Doug and Brian get into a bet, and Brian ends up having sex with Bonnie (Lisa Banes). Brian goes back to NYC with Bonnie but it ends badly. He tracks down Jordan and is surprised by her pregnancy as well as her wealthy family.Where do I begin? First, Brian is a horrible guy. Jordan is well advised to keep her distance. Doug and Brian's friendship is toxic at best. The story is super melodramatic romance. It goes all over the place. I often remember this as a Jamaican movie but that's only the half in the middle. The first change is abrupt. It might be better to keep the whole movie in Jamaica. That would at least keep the random melodramatic twists down to a manageable level. There is an appealing aspect of Tom Cruise being at his most Tom Cruise but it's not appealing enough.

"Cocktail" is a film that contains a lively narrative with notable modern day thought-provoking philosophy. The story behind this film is a real hedonistic example of what most blokes would love to do. Hardly any responsibility being a bar-tender, except to those you tend - and all the while having a great time. The plot is thin which is why it is so easy to understand and this is what makes the film - the moment you have to think about a film like this, is the moment you miss the point. The soundtrack is great, and the movie soundtrack CD is missing some of the best songs from the film too, the best one when Tom and Elizabeth get frisky under the waterfall in Jamaica.This is an 80's movie that one would certainly enjoy especially those who grew up during the said decade. Also,it was more of an entertaining movie that features bar tenders and flaring as well as 80's soundtrack that included many family songs at that time. As for the story, it was not meant for deep thinking nor for someone to introspect for everything is crystal clear in its theme about ambition,courage and love. While the plot is something that is far from being original and refreshing as it was predictable and clichéd,it will never fall short of entertainment. It also shows Tom Cruise's ability to carry a film and elevate a movie higher in terms of appeal and charisma early in his stardom. Finally,the film remains a cultural piece of the 80's and consists of elements of a guilty pleasure by today's standards.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

Wow this movie really has taken a beating from the IMDb reviewers. I think the several one star marks it received, is a little harsh but OK, I'll try to highlight the good things about this movie rather than the bad. I've always been of the, if you haven't got anything good to say, don't say it, school of thought.I think some people watch movies needing them to evoke a strong emotional responses. They want to be moved, they want a journey, or at the very least they want the plot line to be extremely engaging & flawless; Godfather, Shawshank, Schindler's list etc… or those of similar ilk are classic examples. If a movie does not do that, or doesn't meet a preconceived criteria, they feel short changed. These are the "I just wasted 90 minutes of my life" people, the short attention span people, the people that fall asleep 10 minutes in unless there's a court jester juggling in the isle. They are not people that watch all kinds of movies all the time as their primary way of unwinding. When they watch a movie they want it to knock their socks off, pure & simple. A fair point, but Cocktail like many others, is not that kind of movie.Movies are like eating, there's something for every mood. I've been to New York & like millions of others, it's one of my favourite cities (where half of the movie is shot) & I've been to the Caribbean several times (where the other half is shot), both great locations. I love the electricity of a good bar atmosphere, having a few drinks & a wiggle, the prospect of maybe getting lucky, or at least getting drunk & having a sing song, don't we all? This movie includes all the above and more. The classic rock & roll sound track is great, Everly Brothers, Big Bopper, Little Richard, Hippy Hippy Shake etc... & there's some nice mellow reggae ones thrown in as well.For the above alone, this deserves more than 1 star. It was never meant to garner dozens of Oscar Nominations, set records or change the face of cinema, It's just good fun. We can vicariously live through Toms charming, cocky & confident Brian Flanaghan as he rises to the top of New York's upper east side bar scene & from then in the Jamaican paradise of Montego bay, lazily serving cocktails on the beach. And for the ladies there's plenty of romance.No major studios got behind this & it obviously didn't have a massive budget, so like a lot of movies around this time it suffers a bit with production values. There's a section where Cruise has obviously been called back for pickups to strengthen the interview montage at the start. He goes from Cocktail hair, to Rain Man hair, to Cocktail hair again. Same thing happens to Michael J. Fox in Secret Of My Success & that's one of my favourites. I find this comical more than anything else, it's just a period thing. I guess that's because I have a happy, sunny disposition, it's the glass is half full thing again isn't it.Plonk Tom in front of a camera & he'll never disappoint & Elizabeth Shue Is adorable, plus there's great work from the supporting cast. If you are one of the less judgemental & cynical among us, who liked the 80's, a simpler time before technology dictated our every move & who can handle the odd 6 out of 10 without getting their underwear in a twist & having to take half an hour out of their lives to write a scathing review, then go for it."This is the upper east side, the saloon capitol of the world, the big time. Are you ready for the big time Mr Flanagan?!"