Customer Reviews

The Coca-Cola Kid [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been an Australophile forever; if there was one decade that really brought Australia's best side for the rest of the world to see, it had to be the 1980's; the pop music from Down Under during that time was among the best in the world, and the movies from Australia have a wonderful sense of the country that make them far more representative of itself than other movies from other countries...you see an Australian movie and you just KNOW: "That's Australia".
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It may be hard to believe now, but there was once a time when Eric Roberts was much better-known than his sister Julia; this time parallels the time in Eric's career when he actually made good movies, like this one, f'rinstance.
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This movie is very enjoyable in its quirkiness...Eric Roberts is terrific as an ex-United States Marine Corps, Southern-fried Gordon Gecko (Roberts, like his sister Julia, is from Smyrna, GA, so he does come by the accent naturally) who eats, sleeps, and breathes Coca-Cola and is sent by the Corporate hotshots to find out why in one remote corner of the Australian outback (redundancy, anyone?) no Coca-Cola is sold. The reason, it turns out, is the local Cola Baron (played by Australian cinema standard Bill Kerr...check him out in another great Aussie flick, "Gallipoli") who produces terrific cola virtually by hand and with it has won an almost cult-like devotion by the locals.
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Greta Scacchi (who really does look like Susan Sarandon's kid sister in this movie) is the somewhat dizzy secretary with an on-again, off-again ex-husband and a beautiful wee daughter (who calls herself "DMZ", as in neutral territory where her parents can't fight) who starts attempting to seduce Roberts from his first day in Austalia. She may or may not have a motive to her madness, and it can at times be painful watching her attempts, but this is an enjoyable movie for someone who may not necessarily enjoy romantic comedies per se; and as a native Atlantan, I particularly enjoyed Roberts' monologue on the virtues of his product ("...the SOUND...of COKE")...made me want to pop one open on the spot.
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And I PROMISE you will NOT be able to get that Tim Finn (former Split Enz, technically New Zealanders, but who's counting) Coca-Cola jingle out of your head after watching this!

First of all,

I highly recommend the review below, by the guy named "Sideburns." I think he captures the factual basis and spirit for this film. I can understand how some who are "Australia-philes" might want to see a purely Aussie product, and this is not that. It's not "Smash Palace" or many other fine Aussie films of that genre. What this film is, can be described in one word: WEIRD.

That's a good thing.

The genius of Eric Roberts used to be (and may still be again), his ability to seemingly lose himself in his roles, and do so while lacking any self-consciousness about how he comes across. To see this film and then see other excellent (and weird) films, including "The Pope of Greenwich Village" and "Runaway Train," is to see a career arc that was pretty amazing. He seemed to get into serious films with major talent around him, and then be able to carry-off demanding roles (albeit, some similar, sure), with energy and command.

Okay, onto this film. First of all, let's be honest, this is not a deep film. It's not meant to be. It is almost like an indie verson of a Farrely brothers film, at least their early ones, where they don't mind taking risks and also having fun. There's also a nice romantic subtext they had ("Kingpin" - believe it or not, "Me, Myself & Irene") where, in a ridiculous way, they reflect what's in a good majority of people who are either searching for love, or just searching for something in themselves, and they find it reflected or - in the case of the main characters in the Farrely films, and definitely in "Coca Cola Kid," abbetted by others. I'm not saying Woody Harrelson or Jim Carrey could've been the Coca Cola Kid, but what they all have in common, in the specific roles they played in these films, is to make one wonder if anyone would or could find anything remotely interesting about them in a romantic way. They are so completely un-indearing, it seems almost cartoonish - and then one just thinks of many people we all know, and it's not that unbelieavable.

The music in the film alone is just fantastic. The Coca Cola jingle Robert's character commissions is incredible, and it's punctuated by this aboriginal guy who is playing his device - a guy Roberts finds outside the Coca Cola local offices, and promptly drafts into service. It's just really funny to see The Kid's mind work - marketing wheels a'spinnin' as he devises and employs his strategies. Everyone on both sides is equally mocked, and that makes for a really fine, mostly non-judgemental film (rare these days, eh?).

There are other nice touches in the soundtrack and

also, I'd be remiss, not to mention NUTS, if I avoided the very nice scene of Greta Scaatchi where she's freshening up...well, go see the film!

It's quirky, it's revealing, and a lot of fun. It also does a great job of discussing culture clashes, where, when everyone is harmless, you can see how progress comes out of a some dissension, yet still wonder if we're losing a little something in the translation. If that's vague, so's the film in some ways, and I think that is precisely what the director was going for. It doesn't all have to fit perfectly. A lot doesn't, and that makes it kind of seem real.

The Coca-Cola Kid gets by on it's off-beat charm of which it is loaded with. Eric Roberts is Perfect as Becker the hotshot trouble shooter who comes to bring coca-cola to the outback. Along the way he becomes a better person as he encounters a local soft drink makerwho refuses to be pushed aside by the American giant. Greta Scacci plays Beckers love interest who has a few secrets of her own. Yes it is compareable to "Local Hero" but is original enough to stand on it's own. One of Roberts better performances.

I watched this movie when I was on my Greta Scacchi binge. It fared well against the others considering they included Jefferson in Paris and The Red Violin. It is like others have said, pleasingly wacky.
Eric Roberts is one of those actors I love to hate (along with Banderas and Gere) because of his gratingly arrogant manner. But he grew on me (like a wart) in this movie, as the sold-out Coca-Cola marketing man with a mission Down Under. It was funny seeing the disclaimer at the beginning of the movie that this does not represent Coke's actual tactics.
Scacchi is appealing as the pretty but inept secretary who throws herself at Roberts and has a secret related to the cola wars. Smalltown Australia is depicted in much the manner I have come to expect, with a bunch of oddball characters thrown in.

Not one of Makavejev's best, and fans probably shun it as a "commercial job," but it's charming in the same vein that Bill Forsyth's 80s comedies were. Come to think of it, COCA-COLA KID was probably geared to cash in on the success of GREGORY'S GIRL and LOCAL HERO.

Still, the story about a big city, American "corporate troubleshooter" raising capitalistic hell with some wacky Aussie has its moments. Eric Roberts is superb as a lean, clean, ex-Marine, preaching and drawlin' his way through an office wasteland in search of trouble to root out and resolve. He runs amuck of skeptical executives, a ultra-cute divorcee with an instant crush, her cute as a button daughter, an old-fashioned, rural soda pop maker, and a subversive hotel bell hop who's convinced he's a CIA operative. Result: nothing like the Atlanta executives intended in sending their "miracle worker" down under.

The plotline seems to sputter out as the story digs in; that is, when the action and dialog are fast and furious, the film's utterly charming. (The DVD is worth its price for Roberts' near-religious presentation on the worldwide appeal of Coca-Cola.) But when it all has to slow down to bring the story up to date, the sparkle dims. Still, Roberts and Greta Scacchi (as the smitten secretary) are great. Watch for Tim Finn doing a costar turn as well as composing some of the soundtrack.

I originally viewed this movie in the 80s and had positive feelings about the story and the cast. When the DVD release became available I purchased and viewed it again. I enjoyed it even more. This is the story of a coca-cola trouble shooter and an independent pop producer in Australia and the Coca-cola man's (Kid)effort to have coca-cola expand into the market area of the independent brand.Doen't sound funny but it is. It is funny and although there is nudity and sexual content,it is a gentle and sweet movie with abundant humor.

I'm surprised that the other reviewers have not mentioned what an amazing commentary on globalism this film is. Eric Robert's character represents Coca-Cola, not some fictional version, but Coca-Cola itself and they are depicted as a sort of colonial force destroying local culture. This is all thinly-veiled by the offbeat comedy, but not only does he forcefully drive the local soft drink manufacturer out of business, but he adds insult to injury by sleeping with the owner's daughter. In fairness to Greta Scaachi's character, she sees something good in Eric Robert's character and he ultimately changes his mind about his actions and his job.

What amazes me the most is the Coca-Cola branding everywhere in a movie that is aggressively anti-Coke. Maybe Coke figures any movie called The Coca-Cola kid is good publicity. One reviewer on Amazon says this is not a deep movie, which simply is not true. For instance, there's a surprising sub-plot involving a romantic evening between Eric Robert's character and a transgendered individual who is planted to discredit him.

That said, the film is also highly entertaining, especially for anyone who enjoys the peculiar quality of films of this era, which often involve quiet, earnest minimalism contrasting with over-the-top plot-twists, humor, or violence. (see Manhunter, Stormy Monday, Scanners, and Violent Cop).

And if you want to further explore the dark side of Coca-Cola, search online for Killer Coke to find about their violent anti-union actions. This isn't fiction, its reality.

...but it's not for everbody. This film is a quirky, atypical, 80s, Aussie screwball comedy. It defies description or easy classification, therefore making a general recommendation impossible. If you're an Eric Roberts, offbeat comedy or 80s film fan, I suggest you rent this movie or borrow it from your local library. Then, if you enjoy it enough to buy it, do so.

Great sound track and gorgeous views of the Australian outback. You don't see films made much anymore with this kind of theme. The litle girl in this should have won a best actress award somewhere. I fell in love with Greta on first viewing and I haven't stopped. A must see for movie buffs. I loaned mine out and can't get it back. When will it be produced again (DVD!)?

I walked into this movie on a suggestion from my father. I was skeptical. A movie bout Coca Cola? With Eric Roberts? I thought he was dead.

The movie begans in Atlanta, Georgia, which is the headquarters of the world's most popular carbonated drink company. The big-dogs of Coke began to look over their sales charts and they realize there is one particular part of Autralia where there product isn't selling.
So, they send out their best sales-man and persuader, of whom the movie is titled after.

Suffice to say that the plot becomes more complicated once he arrives in a very small town in the Outback. There is some surprisingly excellent music, and Eric Robert gives a very good preformance, feigning an Atlanta accent amazingly well. It is a funny movie, and has a very large 80's feel to it. (Take a look at 'Local Hero' and 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' - they both have the same feel.)

For these reasons, I give this movie five stars and would suggest it, as my father did to me, to anyone who likes a laugh.