MovieChat Forums > Chuck & Buck (2000) Discussion > Rum and Coke and other thoughts

Rum and Coke and other thoughts

posted 11 years ago by bassgoilius
2 replies | jump to latest

1. I found it weird that Buck was supposed to be some sort of man-child yet he at two spare occasions was drinking rum and coke. When did he "graduate" to hard liquor, this, the man who basically eats only lollipops, ice cream, and cake?

2. Perhaps other money came to him at some point, but even in the year 2000, I can't imagine that the 10,000 dollars that he had is enough to cover his expenses; relocating, and living without another source of income and paying this woman 25/hour to help produce his play. Then again, if he is living off rum and coke and lollipops then maybe he is saving money on his food budget.

3. I kind of thought that after he went crying to Evelyn, he was going to fixate on her and begin stalking her (seeing her as his new mother figure).

4. Either in the play or in some other conversation, Buck says that Chuck was older than him. Yet Chuck says to Buck: "We were 11". I wonder who was telling the truth. I mean maybe Chuck had an earlier birthday and was closer to 12, but I don't think I would classify him as being " older" in that case.

[–] Ithilfaen 10 years ago

Sounds more like nitpicking than thoughts but let's go with it.

1. I found it weird that Buck was supposed to be some sort of man-child yet he at two spare occasions was drinking rum and coke. When did he "graduate" to hard liquor, this, the man who basically eats only lollipops, ice cream, and cake?

Not really sure why you point the ice cream and cake out as if that was his only sustenance. He's at a wedding and eats cake. He's offered ice cream and says yes. Hardly means that's all he's ever eating.
As for "graduating" to hard liquor, he took care of his Mom for years, living alone with her. Being unsupervised, legally able to buy it and physically able to tolerate it, how long do you think it would take pre-teens watching tv to "graduate" to hard liquor?

2. Perhaps other money came to him at some point, but even in the year 2000, I can't imagine that the 10,000 dollars that he had is enough to cover his expenses

You're only assuming that it's all the money he has. We see him withdrawing 10K. Maybe he has more. Maybe he sells his house.

3. I kind of thought that after he went crying to Evelyn, he was going to fixate on her and begin stalking her (seeing her as his new mother figure).

I guess he realized she had nothing to do with it. He never really thought it was her fault, imo. He just put that in his play because it was easier for him to believe she was the one stopping Chuck from being friends with him but by this point, he had seen Chuck was the one who wanted nothing to do with him.

I mean maybe Chuck had an earlier birthday and was closer to 12, but I don't think I would classify him as being " older" in that case.

For kids, 20 is ancient. So yeah a few months older count. Buck sees the world like a 10 year old does.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] jname96 10 years ago

I agree, regarding the rum and coke. They were inconsistent about it in the movie.

He did order Rum and Coke twice in the movie--at Chuck's party, and at the bar where he follows Chuck to.

BUT, the rest of the time he seems really content with soda and "sweet" innocent foods/drinks... he even tells Beverly: "I like Coke"... and at the final dinner scene where he runs into Chuck (from afar), Buck is clearly drinking soda in contrast to Beverly and the theater people, who are drinking alcohol.

It felt like a spotty misfire, for the movie to be inconsistent about his drinking habits...