Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2022

After making a name for himself with artier endeavors in the 1960s and ‘70s, director Dusan Makavejev aimed to establish a career for himself in the 1980s, settling down with slightly more accessible fare, including the 1981 dark comedy, “Montenegro.” 1985’s “The Coca-Cola Kid” was the second of Makavejev’s offerings in the decade, presenting the helmer with more defined steps toward a mainstream hit, dealing with known actors and the exotic, idiosyncratic ways of Australia, which provides the picture with a special energy during a time of growing trendiness. “The Coca-Cola Kid” is based on short stories written by Frank Moorehouse (who also provides the screenplay), and the picture retains such narrative limitations, putting Makavejev in charge of conjuring a sense of playfulness for the movie while it struggles with a general disinterest in storytelling authority. Amusing interactions and a pleasing sense of location is in play here, keeping the effort buoyant enough to pass, and Makavejev retains much of his visual and tonal impishness, trying to twist the feature into something odd when the plot threatens to keep the whole thing a conventional fish-out-of-water study, with slight romantic comedy additions.

An ex-Marine who now works for the Coca-Cola Company, Becker (Eric Roberts) travels from Atlanta to Australia to help spread the Big Soda word to the locals. Arriving in Sydney, Becker sets up shop at Coke headquarters, joined by Terri (Greta Scacchi), his secretary, forming a plan to bring Coca-Cola to the small town of Anderson Valley. It’s here where Coke doesn’t exist, with T. George (Bill Kerr) building his own soda empire with McDowell’s Western Drinks, using his own resources to keep corporations out of the area. Becker refuses to back down from a challenge, traveling to Anderson Valley to study the competition, getting to know T. George and his business acumen, while Terri provides a distraction, attracted to the American and his unusual ways.

There’s a stern scroll at the beginning of “The Coca-Cola Kid” which details the Coca-Cola Company’s distance from the production, making it clear the soda brand had nothing to do with the creation of the feature. It’s amazing corporate signed off on anything in the picture, which depicts Coke employees, with the exception of Becker, as dim-bulbs without much understanding of the continent they’re selling to, while the American is written as a soulless business stooge used to fast-talking his way into deals. “The Coca-Cola Kid” isn’t exactly a friendly overview of industry tactics and participants, but Coke was in a weird place in the 1980s, which may be the reason why they okayed a less-than-savory study of their marketplace tactics.

“The Coca-Cola Kid” means to be funny, working up a tone of oddity as cocksure Becker comes up against Australian ways, including a slack corporate atmosphere and heavy resistance from T. George and the Anderson Valley population, who initially try to run the American out of town when he first arrives to bring Coke to McDowells land. Antagonisms are interesting between T. George and Becker, with locals well-rehearsed when it comes to the pressure of Coca-Cola salesmen, and Terri’s presence takes some unexpected turns when focused on her ex-husband and care for her daughter. The wandering ways of “The Coca-Cola Kid” doesn’t always work for the picture, which often struggles to find a narrative direction. Makavejev doesn’t seem particularly interested in generating an understanding of Becker, preferring to keep him active in strange situations, including his encounters with a hotel employee who believes he’s a spy, and Terri plays a weird game of revenge, trying to frame the American as a more hedonistic threat.

The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Coca-Cola Kid" is listed as a "2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive." Fun City Editions handles the feature's "worldwide Blu-ray premiere," and they provide a marvelously fresh viewing experience for the endeavor, which utilizes a bright palette, offering big hues on soda signage (Coca-Cola red really pops here) and Australian tours, which provide deep greenery and blue waters. Primaries are distinct, especially on clothing, and skintones are natural. Detail does well here, capturing skin particulars and elements of age. Urban and rural tours retain texture and dimension. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but remains film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 LPCM mix delivers an engaging listening experience, offering reasonably clear dialogue exchanges, which often battle with background noise in industrial settings. Performances remain appreciable. Scoring cues are sharp, with a wide presence and distinct instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are equally crisp. Atmospherics are compelling.

The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet (10 pages) features an essay by Spike Carter.

• Commentary features film programmer Lars Nilsen and Jonathan Hertzberg, from Fun City Editions.

• "Dark and Bubbly" (11:07, HD) is an interview with actor Eric Roberts, who discusses his early roles, which were filled with positive characters, working into the 1980s, where he began to play bad men, giving him a difficult reputation due to his intense method. Roberts discusses his efforts to inhabit the parts he plays, but describes the lightness of "The Coca-Cola Kid" as a "paid vacation," happy to work in Australia, which helped to open his eyes to the negative behavior of Americans. Director Dusan Makavejev is fondly recalled, along with co-star Greta Scacchi. The interviewee also celebrates the work of cinematographer Dean Semler, and admits that everything in the feature had to be cleared with Coca-Cola, forcing the production to make them "happy."

• "The Real Thing" (32:16, SD) is a 2009 interview with producer David Roe and actress Greta Scacchi. Poe discusses his initial interest in the project, which adapted a few of author Frank Moorehouse's stories. He was also curious about director Dusan Makavejev, trying to make sense of his reputation, emerging with the understanding that the helmer thrived on conflict, making him difficult to manage. Scacchi first encountered the material during a trip to the Cannes Film Festival, showing interest in Makavejev due to her love of cult directors. While Dennis Quaid was courted for the lead role, Roe ended up with Eric Roberts, and Scacchi is remarkably candid about her experience working with the actor, who brought "Paul Snider" energy with him, also allegedly offering some unsavory behavior when it came time for a love scene. Scacchi describes her days with Roberts as "no fun," but she did end up with a boyfriend in musician Tim Finn, and offers her feelings about nudity during this time in her career.

• Image Gallery (:37) collects film stills.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:36, SD) is included.

The Coca-Cola Kid Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Coca-Cola Kid" isn't particularly amusing, but Makavejev's energy keeps it on the move, following Becker into the wild, into bed with Terri, and into a recording studio to oversee the creation of a fresh Australian jingle. The feature is active, and Roberts pushes hard to remain the center of attention, facing stiff competition from accomplished supporting performances and a playful Scacchi, who's rarely this loose on-screen. "The Coca-Cola Kid" isn't consistent, with the ending trying to provide an emotional payoff for a psychological journey that never materializes, but it remains an involving study of business eccentricities and filmmaking messiness from Makavejev.