The navy cotton shirting looks somewhat faded, the likely result of hard-wearing and multiple washes that has rendered it into the role of beach cover-up. When Jo Ann finds Mac on the beach, he’s understandably dressed in just a set of polyester swim trunks, loudly patterned with gold aquatic birds overlaid against double sets of red vertical stripes, all against an ivory ground.Īfter Mac rushes into the water to attend to his son, he pulls on a long-sleeved polo to dry off. Back at his condo, he tucks his son into bed and recovers with shots of straight tequila, which steel his nerves enough that he finally asks Jo Ann out. Just as Jo Ann’s temper flares, Mac’s son gets into an accident and catalyzes Mac’s parental instincts as he rushes into the waves. The complications of the messy love triangle result in one afternoon where Jo Ann storms onto a beach to confront Mac, who is watching his son compete in a surfing competition. He enjoys a convenient childhood association with Nick Frescia (Kurt Russell), the slick-suited and even slicker-haired homicide detective just promoted to lieutenant of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department narcotics division, though their hot-and-cold friendship devolves into romantic rivalry for the affections of the stylish restauranteur Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer). Gibson doesn’t try to conceal his natural Australian accent while portraying Dale “Mac” McKussic, a surprisingly sensitive cocaine dealer (yes, you read that right) who’s trying to go straight, if tempted by the occasional opportunity to help friends like his thickheaded lawyer out with their fledgling drug deals. Unfortunately, the aloha shirt only shows up for a fleeting scene at a phone booth, and Russell doesn’t tipple any tequila while wearing those natty suits… which leaves us with a pretty slapdash look as Gibson’s character turns to his loyal Herradura. Several had recommended Tequila Sunrise to me for its style, and I’ll admit the name intrigued me, so I mentally scheduled to watch it and write about it in time for #NationalTequilaDay, celebrated annually on July 24… so happy National Tequila Day!īefore watching the movie, I did some Googling to see what kind of looks I’d be covering, assuming that today’s post would either be about Mel Gibson’s blue aloha shirt or perhaps one of the sharp suits that Kurt Russell wears as part of his Detective Pat Riley cosplay. Mel Gibson as Dale “Mac” McKussic, retired drug dealerįollowing his success as a screenwriter-credited and uncredited-on some of the most memorable movies of the ’70s, Robert Towne intended for his sophomore directorial film, Tequila Sunrise, to be something of a spiritual follow-up to Chinatown, which… it isn’t.ĭon’t get me wrong, I did get some enjoyment out of Tequila Sunrise and there’s no denying that it’s refreshingly original-almost to a questionable degree-but I would argue it’s not even close to the same league as Chinatown, let alone Bonnie & Clyde, The Godfather, The Last Detail, Marathon Man, or the other excellent films that benefited from Towne’s contributions. Mel Gibson and Michelle Pfeiffer in Tequila Sunrise (1988) Vitals
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