This movie is one of those sublimely awful movies that should be savored line by line, wretched moment by wretched moment.

As truly awful as "Plan 9 From Outer Space."

So awful it's terrifying at first, then mesmerizing, then strangely exhilirating--I mean, can people really conceive of something THIS bad?

The "Best Worst" Film of the entire 80s, by a long shot.

Brian Flanagan(Tom Cruise) plans with his middle-aged buddy Doug(Bryan Brown) to open a cocktail bar Cocktails & Dreams. He studies bartending at a community college. The professor(Paul Benedict of TV's The Jeffersons) threatened to fail Brian after making a harsh comment. At his first bartending job,while fresh in college,Brian doesn't toss around the booze and glasses like novice bartenders do. As his skills improved,Brian had the patrons singing,"Addicted To Love",the late Robert Palmer's hit song. While on holiday in Jamaica with Doug and Doug's new bride(Kelly Lynch),Brian meets a pretty girl named Jordyne Mooney(Elisabeth Shue). Jordyne's girlfriend passed out on the beach after a champagne binge and a sunbath. Brian saved the girlfriend's life. Brian and Jordyne are romantically involved until Jordyne catches Brian with another woman,this one wealthy like Doug's new wife. Doug made a bet that Brian can't hook up with a wealthy woman. Brian accepted the bet since it was a dare. When Brian visits Jerry's Deli back in New York,where Jordyne works as a waitress,Jordyne drenches him with various entrees. Brian showed up at Jerry's to apologize to Jordyne for hurting her,but had no chance to do so. So Brian goes to Jordyne's penthouse apartment where he meets her father Richard(Laurence Luckinbill). Richard offers $10,000 to "get Brian out of Jordyne's life". Jordyne's is now pregnant with twins and Brian is the father. Brian tears up Richard's written check("This is how hung up on money I am."). Doug wound up drinking himself to death on a vessel. Brian returns to the Mooneys' apartment and proposes to Jordyne. At the newly opened Flanagan's,Brian and his new wife are toasted by Brian's uncle,who himself owns a tavern. Director Roger Donaldson subsequently directed 1990's CADILLAC MAN.

God what a turkey! But it was the 80's afterall.

Granted, it's cheesy, but when you look beyond the simple story and thrown in plot twists, it's awesome!! To pick up your life, live and work in the sun and then fall in love with a beautiful woman you meet on an island - sounds like evry guy's dream, right? At least mine. I'll live vicariously through Tom, since it wouldn't work for me. This has always been an under-rated movie, but any red-blooded guy should be able to identify. Great acting thrown in for free!

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?