Cocktails & Dreams (2015)
An 11-minute comedy-thriller parody of the 1988 Tom Cruise classic, brought to life on a shoestring budget by director Mike Upchurch.
Cocktails & Dreams - Movie Information
- Original Title: Cocktails & Dreams
- Release Year: 2015
- Directed by: Mike Upchurch
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Comedy, Thriller
- Runtime: 11m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Production Companies: Hardscrabble Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
- Alternative Titles: Electric Television presents "Cocktails & Dreams" (US)
Cocktails & Dreams - Plot
A comedic version of 1988's "Cocktail" starring Tom Cruise, featuring comedian Chris Fairbanks as a desperate bartender named Chris who tries and fails to start a business with the main characters from the original movie, which leads to fist fights, stalking, and eventually murder. The film features Mike Upchurch's distinct style of film parody, digitally adding actors and props to old footage to create new scenarios and gags.
Cocktails & Dreams - Trailer
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Cocktails & Dreams - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mike Upchurch
Main Cast
- Chris Fairbanks
- Matt Kowalick
- TJ Amick
- Curtis Armstrong
- Emily Maya Mills
- Brian Christopher
- Lizzy Cooperman
- Ron Lynch
- Mike Upchurch
Writers
- Mike Upchurch
- TJ Amick
- Brian Christopher
- Frank Conniff
- Chris Fairbanks
Producers
- TJ Amick
- Brian Christopher
- Chris Fairbanks
- Mike Upchurch
Cocktails & Dreams - FAQs
What is Cocktails & Dreams about?
Cocktails & Dreams is a short comedy-thriller parody of the 1988 Tom Cruise film Cocktail. Comedian Chris Fairbanks plays a desperate bartender named Chris who tries to launch a business with characters from the original movie. Things go sideways fast — fist fights, stalking, and eventually murder follow.
Is Cocktails & Dreams a parody of Cocktail (1988)?
Yes, absolutely. Cocktails & Dreams directly parodies the 1988 Tom Cruise film Cocktail. Director Mike Upchurch uses his signature technique of digitally inserting new actors and props into footage from the original film, creating entirely new comedic scenarios and gags around the source material.
Who directed Cocktails & Dreams?
Cocktails & Dreams was directed by Mike Upchurch, who also co-wrote the film, edited it, and appears on screen as Fake Tom Cruise. Upchurch is known for his distinctive film parody style, which involves digitally adding actors and props to existing footage to build fresh comedic situations.
Who stars in Cocktails & Dreams?
The film stars comedian Chris Fairbanks in the lead role as a bartender named Chris. The cast also includes Matt Kowalick, TJ Amick, Curtis Armstrong (known for Revenge of the Nerds), Emily Maya Mills, Brian Christopher, Lizzy Cooperman, Ron Lynch, and director Mike Upchurch as Fake Tom Cruise.
How long is Cocktails & Dreams?
Cocktails & Dreams runs just 11 minutes, making it a short film. Despite its brief runtime, it packs in a full comedic arc — from a bartender's doomed business ambitions all the way through fist fights, stalking, and murder — in classic parody fashion.
When was Cocktails & Dreams released?
Cocktails & Dreams was released on March 31, 2015. The film was produced by Hardscrabble Pictures and is also known under the alternate title Electric Television presents "Cocktails & Dreams" in the United States.
What movies are similar to Cocktails & Dreams?
If you enjoy Cocktails & Dreams, you might also like other comedy parodies such as Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993), Meet the Spartans (2008), Orgazmo (1998), and Nurse Betty (2000). Fans of short-form comedy may also enjoy Die Hart (2023) and Matt Rife: Natural Selection (2023).
What is the budget of Cocktails & Dreams?
Cocktails & Dreams was made on a remarkably lean budget of just $1,500. That shoestring production cost makes the film a testament to creative resourcefulness — Mike Upchurch's technique of digitally grafting new footage onto existing material helped stretch every dollar of that tiny budget.
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