This movie about a young man trying to find his way is an enjoyable entry from the eighties that initially seems lighthearted but ultimately gains substance. The story follows a former military person (played by Tom Cruise) who works as a bartender in New York City while going to school, with aspirations of eventually landing a job on Wall Street. He then develops a plan to open a nightclub in Jamaica. Bryan Brown portrays his world-weary guide, and Elisabeth Shue and Lisa Banes appear as romantic possibilities. "Cocktail," released in 1988, is an entertaining film anchored by Cruise’s performance, beginning with an upbeat, humorous, and somewhat superficial tone but developing its characters into something more substantial. It's a lively watch, though the first portion feels detached from reality, a problem that gets addressed later on. Brown evokes Michael Caine, and Shue is at her best, although her looks aren’t presented as effectively as they were in films like “The Karate Kid” or "Leaving Las Vegas." Laurence Luckinbill has a role near the conclusion; he would later deliver an excellent performance as Sybok in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.” The resolution is acceptable, but fundamentally, a bar remains just that—a place where people drink. It’s certainly possible to earn a living from it, however, does that improve or harm society overall? The movie has a running time of 1 hour and 43 minutes and was filmed in Toronto and Ocho Rios, Jamaica. GRADE: B

Source on TMDB