Episode 11 – Far and Away

In Far and Away, Ron Howard loads up the wagon with Irish accents straight out of a Lucky Charms box. Tom Cruise’s Joseph Donnelly flees a torched Irish tenancy and a half-baked murder plot to chase free land in America, while Shannon Christie (Nicole Kidman) trades aristocratic boredom for adventure, staking her entire future on a tragically doomed set of spoons.

In this episode of Movie Cruise, we discuss Joseph’s dad briefly climbing out of his grave just to declare his son “an odd boy,” and we look at how bare-knuckle boxing was a lot easier when nobody bothered to dodge a punch. We break down the Oklahoma land rush as a full-contact demolition derby, salute the brave idiot on the penny-farthing, and confirm that the best way to get a horse’s respect is apparently to punch it in the mouth.

But most importantly: can someone please just tell Tom Cruise that they like his hat?

Next port of call: A Few Good Men.

Tom Cruise hits the oval as Cole Trickle, a cocky Nascar rookie who can’t explain a carburetor but absolutely believes he should win Daytona. In Days of Thunder, he trades paint with a psycho rival, survives a pileup of concussions and clichés, and still crosses the finish line a champion. Ready yourself for Top Gun on wheels.

In this episode of Movie Cruise, we talk about Tony Scott shooting an action reel while Robert Towne keeps shoving in drama, leaving a movie that’s somehow both loud and boring. We hit on Tom’s total ignorance of how cars work, the prank “arrest” that turns into a strip show, and the unsettling floral invasion where he fills Nicole Kidman’s apartment with roses. Mostly, though, we realize that everything unbelievable, deranged, and unlikely in this movie has actually happened in Nascar.

Next port of call: Far and Away.

Episode 08 - Rain Man

Tom Cruise dials his inner jerk to 11 as Charlie Babbitt, a slick L.A. hustler who discovers his long-lost brother is an autistic savant and, more importantly, the one who actually got the inheritance (but Charlie definitely got the rose bushes). Their cross-country odyssey is a quest to answer the big questions: Who’s actually on first? How many minutes till Wapner? And is Vern really Raymond’s main man?

In this episode of Movie Cruise, we talk about Cruise evolving into a real actor, weaponizing his douchebag persona so effectively that plenty of viewers still can’t stand Charlie (or Cruise). We run through Raymond’s “Rain Mannerisms” (“‘Course’”, “Definitely,” “Uh oh,” “I’m an excellent driver”), Qantas’s terrifyingly good safety record, and why Charlie keeps making his girlfriend wait in the car. We also unpack that deeply weird elevator kiss in Vegas and debut our new favorite shutdown: “Okay, Rain Man.”

Next port of call: Born on the 4th of July.

Episode 7 - Cocktail

Tom Cruise becomes the flashiest bartender in Manhattan — at least by TGI Fridays standards — flipping bottles, chasing dreams, and taking his act all the way to Jamaica and back. In the film that made “Kokomo” a hit and accomplished little else, Cruise and his mentor trade shots over what it means to be successful, and over the women who get caught in the mix.

We talk flugelbinder lore (and yes, it runs deep), the ambling plot, and whether this movie works better as a comedy, a drama, or an extended Sandals commercial. For those short on time, John pinpoints the exact moment everything goes up in flames — right around 52:28. Enjoy our discussion of the movie that Tom Cruise touted as “not a crowning jewel” in his career.

Next port of call: Rain Man.

Episode 6 – The Color of Money

When Tom Cruise swaps fighter jets for pool cues, he somehow makes the world of underground hustling look like one long hissy fit. In this episode of Movie Cruise, John and Marty rack 'em up for The Color of Money - Martin Scorsese's slick sports drama where Cruise plays a flaky, petulant pool prodigy dragged along the road to stardom by his teetering mentor, Fast Eddie (Paul Newman).

We talk about the film’s almost-French production history, the bewildering world of high-stakes sports-betting, and how Fast Eddie stakes his whole life on the hustle, until he himself is hustled — and the (pool) tables are turned. It’s a story of mentorship, manipulation, and raw ambition, told through a cloud of chalk dust.

Next port of call: Cocktail

Episode 5 – Top Gun

Tom Cruise takes to the skies – and the showers – in one of the most aggressively bathroom-oriented action movies ever made. In this episode of Movie Cruise, John and Marty strap in for Top Gun – a sweat-soaked ode to American bravado where Cruise flirts, flies, and flexes his way through Navy flight school.

We talk about the movie’s obsession with showers, the unintentionally hilarious volleyball scene, and the absence of any real villain beyond a few inanimate Soviet MiGs. Marty isn’t impressed, John thinks it’s fine, and together we try to make sense of all the steam, sweat, and tears stitched together into this montage of 1980s patriotism.

Next port of call: The Color of Money.

You’ve got Tim Curry as a horned demon plotting to murder unicorns, and Tom Cruise as a glittery wood elf. What could go wrong? In this episode of Movie Cruise, John and Marty wade into Legend — a pollen-infused, cottagecore fever dream where Tom Cruise battles goblins and swamp hags in an epic showdown between light and darkness.

We talk about the movie’s ambitious grab-bag of fairy tales, from fairies and elves to unicorns, the ever-present dust, the unnecessary rhyming dialogue, and the Tangerine Dream soundtrack that turns the whole thing into a surreal haze. It’s a tale full of 1980s cocaine and fury, signifying nothing.

Next stop on the cruise: Top Gun

What happens when your entire future depends on your football scholarship, and your coach doesn't have your interests at heart? In this episode of Movie Cruise, John and Marty break down All the Right Moves, where Tom Cruise plays a high school player caught between the gridiron and a shot at something bigger.

We dig into the movie’s gritty coming-of-age vibe, the way ambition collides with small-town pressure, and why the ending might have been stronger without redeeming the coach. Along the way, we experiment with “Wine Corner” (a short-lived segment) and map the movie onto Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey — a pedantic detour we’ll soon leave behind. Still, this one feels like our own “Belly of the Whale.”

Next port of call: Legend.

What happens when you don’t set the parking brake on your dad’s Porsche? Or when you accidentally turn your family home into a brothel? In this episode of Movie Cruise, John and Marty dive into Tom Cruise’s breakout role in Risky Business — a movie about sex, college applications, and the awkward leap from childhood to adulthood.

We talk about the movie’s surprising depth compared to Losin’ It, the symbolism of Joel’s ever-present glasses, and the unforgettable moment when Joel’s dad complains about a “preponderance of bass.” From equalizers to existentialism, we explore how Cruise balances comedy, style, and rebellion — and why this movie cemented him as a star.

On this episode we delve into Tom's debut movie Losin it. Spoiler, we don't like it. But this isn't a weekend cruise we're here for the long haul!

Keywords

Losing It, Tom Cruise, 1980s movies, character analysis, Tijuana, masculinity, psychological themes, film review, movie trivia, comedy