A wise author once wrote "Dark is not the opposite of light, meerly the lack of it" Theref...
A wise author once wrote "Dark is not the opposite of light, meerly the lack of it" Therefore will somebody change the bulb in my head for I feel it it is growing a little dim.
Member since:30.03.2004
Reviews:57
Members who trust:81
In 1988 four guys from Jamaica inspite of everybody laughimg in their face decided to form a bobsled team. Their efforts captured the hearts and minds of the world, then was finally immortalised by the kings of family film Disney in 1993. The original team member names were Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Michael White and Samuel Clayton. They all had military backgrounds except one who was a railway engineer. Although Disney changed their names and their professions for the film, the Jamaican foursome did get their hairbrained idea from the local pushcart derby held every year. After all a bobsled is just a pushcart with no wheels...!
The Film itself tells the slightly loosely based truth about four intrepid Jamaicans yearning for glory in a sport as alien to them as well snow, or even ice for that matter. The characters are Derice Bannock (Leon) Sanka Coffie (Doug E Doug) Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba) and Junior Bevil (Rawle
D Lewis) As fate brings them together through the misery of not qualifying in their chosen sport of short distance sprinting, except for Sanka who is just Derices best mate. They come together after Derice seeks out island ledgend and former disgraced American bobsleder champ Irv Blitzer (John Candy) In the hope that he will coach them to glory. From here the film just goes for laugh after laugh as they train, well if that's what you call it. (You just have to see the training sled...LOL) To prepair for the upcoming winter programme, which is to be held in Calgary Canada. You can't help but think that the methods are a little unorthadox, like locking a member in a freezer to help endure extreme cold weather. That should give you the idea that they have no idea what is in store for them. Let alone that they could go on to capture the attention of the sporting world.
The acting in this film is just so good I would almost go on to say top class Doug E Doug as Sanka is just so funny I nearly wet myself. All the others just seem to bounce off him, it must have been just so hard to be serious and actually shoot the film. Candys sheer sarcasmn and almost unwillingness to take it all seriously is great, just his one liners like "Oh goody" in the perfect places made me crease up laughing. I mean with the combination of a great plot and a good script combined with the Jamaican accent and manerismns is good enough. But no this goes one step further it is just sheer comedy gold the whole way through. I can say there are absolutely 100% no fall downs in this department at all.
The Special effects I suppose are ok for about the time this was released, but what more do you want it's great with or without. Combined with the odd bit of actual footage thrown in for good measure. Nope this film can stand on it's own two legs without the need for any massive visuals whatsoever.
The soundtrack obviously is very Reggae orientated, which of course you would expect wouldn't you. Artists such as Wailing Souls, Jimmy Cliff and Diana King. Although I have never heard of them, they do help make up a strong soundtrack for the film. You just combine this great upbeat film and the brilliant musical score to compliment and you have the recipe for a perfect film. Believe me too, this film is perfect in every way right down to the last tear jurking bout of laughter fits.
My final opinion on this film is....Well you might have guessed I just love it too bits, how could you not to hate this film is to hate sheer comedy itself. The film would be suited to any aged viewer even the very young as you don't need to be able to understand english to see the hilarity contained in this film. You just want to watch it over and over again, believe me there have been times when I have done this too. This film can set you back as little as £5.99 brand new at some outlets, and probably even cheaper on ebay so do shop around. But you have got to just buy it NOW, and watch the sugar coated trackstars do their thing.I would just like to take a moment to take my hat off to director Jon Turteltaub on a job well done 10/10.
Running time, 95 Mins approx Certificate, PG (but suitable for any age honest) Supports, Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Surround 2.0
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Christopher Ettridge, Victor McGuire, Emma Amos, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Elizabeth Carling
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Based on an improbable but true story,Cool Runningsconcerns the Jamaican bobsled team that ... more
competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Based on an improbable but true story,Cool Runningsconcerns the Jamaican bobsled team that ... more
competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
You'll love COOL RUNNINGS - the outrageously funny hit inspired by the true story of ... more
Jamaica's first Olympic bobsled team. They were four unlikely athletes with one impossible dream. Now, with the help of ex-champion as their coach (John Candy - Uncle ...
![Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78539432.jpg "Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994]")
Dec 9th, 2005
exceptional by (4%):
very helpful by (84%):
helpful by (13%):
