Summary
After being discharged from the Army, Brian Flanagan moves back to Queens and takes a job in a bar run by Doug Coughlin, who teaches Brian the fine art of bar-tending. Brian quickly becomes a patron favorite with his flashy drink-mixing style, and Brian adopts his mentor's cynical philosophy on life and goes for the money.
Cast
Tom Cruise
Brian Flanagan
Bryan Brown
Douglas "Doug" Coughlin
Elisabeth Shue
Jordan Mooney
Lisa Banes
Bonnie
Kelly Lynch
Kerry Coughlin
Gina Gershon
Coral
Ron Dean
Uncle Pat
Ellen Foley
Eleanor
Chris Owens
Soldier
Louis Ferreira
Soldier
James Eckhouse
Tourist
Laurence Luckinbill
Richard Mooney
Paul Benedict
Finance Teacher
Robert Donley
Eddie
Andrea Doven
Dulcey
John Graham
Soldier
Richard Thorn
Soldier
Robert Greenberg
Job Interviewer
Harvey J. Alperin
Job Interviewer
Sandra Will
Job Interviewer
Allan Wasserman
Job Interviewer
E. Hampton Beagle
Job Interviewer
Parker Whitman
Job Interviewer
Richard Livingston
Job Interviewer
Bill Bateman
Job Interviewer
Jean St. James
Job Interviewer
Rosalyn Marshall
Job Interviewer
Jeff Silverman
Job Interviewer
Rich Crater
Job Interviewer
Marykate Harris
Job Interviewer
Lew Saunders
Job Interviewer
Jack Newman
Economics Teacher
Diane Douglass
Mrs. Rivkin
George Sperdakos
English Teacher
David Chant
Chinese Porter
Dianne Heatherington
First Waitress
Arlene Mazerolle
Second Waitress
Paul Abbott
Snotty Customer
Ellen Maguire
Bar Patron
Larry Block
Bar Owner
Kelly Connell
Yuppie Poet
Gerry Bamman
Tourist
Reathel Bean
Tourist
Peter Boyden
Tourist
Luther Hansraj
Ambulance Attendant
Kenneth McGregor
Robert Powell the Sculptor
Liisa Repo-Martell
Young Couple in Deli
Adam Furfaro
Young Couple in Deli
Kim Nelles
Female Artist
David L. Crowley
Doorman
James Mainprize
Butler
Gregg Baker
Bouncer
Jaap Broeker
Doorman (uncredited)
Vivian Palermo
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Garry Pastore
Well Dressed Man (uncredited)
Andrew Shue
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Karen Starr
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Crew
Director
Roger Donaldson
Screenplay
Heywood Gould
Reviews
Geronimo1967
June 9, 2022
5
There was something about Tom Cruise in this film that shows him at his most engaging and fun. His character "Brian" wants to get on in life - but at every turn his limited of education gets in the way. Despondent, he heads to a bar where he encounters "Doug" (Bryan Brown) and next thing we know, he is a cocktail barman. A bit slow to start off with, but soon he has the clientele eating out of his hand as his charm and cheekiness soon show he has a real skill for this job. The first half hour or so are actually quite lively and entertaining. We also get a sense of just how hard - manic, even - it is to be behind the bar in a busy venue - maybe I will show a little more patience next time I have to wait for my Sauvignon Blanc (though probably not!). The bulk of the film, though, is really weak and feeble. He falls in love, cheats, falls out of love, drops the bottle, does he or doesn't he get the girl (Elisabeth Shue)? Then the film is tinged with a little bit of tragedy just in case the fluffiness of it all was making us light-headed. The ending is sort of imposed upon us, and after 100 minutes it took it's time to deliver the obvious. If you don't drink, you'll almost certainly hate it. If you do drink, then you will probably still not rate it much, but at least you will learn how to put fruit juice in a martini!
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$20,000,000.00
Revenue:
$171,504,781.00
Keywords
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