Having recently caught the movie Uncle Buck on cable it kind of got me in John Candy kind of a mood. John Candy was one of the best comedic actors of his time, and he died way too soon. So since I was in a John Candy mood I searched out some John Candy movies and one that I came across was Cool Runnings which was one of Candy's last films. I had watched this one many years ago but my mind was kind of foggy about it so I got myself a copy and popped it in the DVD player.

Cool Runnings

This comedy starts of in Jamaica. Three young Jamaican sprinters with their sites set on the 1988 Calgary Olymics find their Olympic dreams dashed, when one of them trips and falls and ends up tripping the other two. As they all fall to the ground they kiss all hopes of going to the Olympics in 1988 goodbye.

One of the sprinters still has Olympic dreams that he just can not shake. So when he hears that when he hears Irving Blitzer (John Candy) a former Olympic medalist and an old friend of his father's also living on the Island of Jamaica he gets a bright idea. He would like to get a Jamaican Bobsled team together, have Irving Blitzer coach them and then go to the 1988 Olympics. So together with his best friend Sanka (Doug E. Doug) and the two other Sprinters who fell in the Olympic trials they form a team and set out to convince Irv to coach them.

The guys have a lot of things against them in this pursuit one is no-no of them had ever been in or had even seen an actual Bobsled, and of course living in Jamaica finding large masses of ice to practice on is pretty much in possible. And Irving has reservations of his own. As he had disgraced himself, his country, and his team by putting weights in his Bobsled 16 years ago. He and his team mates were stripped of their gold medals for cheating.

The men convince Irving to coach them and they begin training in Jamaican style for the 1988 Olympics. Now they must find the funds to get to Calgary, find a Bobsled and Qualify to compete.

These 4 young men are going against the odds. They are going up against more experienced bobsledders who have practiced for years in the proper climate, the only Bob sled they are able to acquire is rickety, their coach is not thought of very highly by the other coaches, and the Olympic committee, and nobody outside of Jamaica and even some people in Jamaica think they have a chance. But can sure determination bring them the gold? To find out you will have to watch Cool Runnings.

My Thoughts

Cool Runnings was meant to be a comedy and there are a few laughs to be had, but I found the movie more serious than comical. Sure the whole basis of the movie is kind of funny, because the Jamaican climate is not exactly one where a Bobsled would be or could be used, but for the most part I didn’t find this movie all that funny. This is not to say that it was not a good movie. I actually liked it quite a bit. The movie is an endearing movie about friendship, and perseverance. It’s about beating the odds or at least trying, and the movie has a real lesson to it. One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Irv (John Candy) tells one of the guys on his team, “If you think you are nothing without a gold medal, you are not going to think you are much with one either.” I probably miserably mis-quoted this but basically it is saying be proud of the man you are weather you have a gold medal or not. Having a gold medal is icing on the cake but it is not the measure of the man who possesses it. Pretty cool I think.

This movie is safe for most children, there is a small amount of violence, but other than that it is pretty clean.

Recommendation

I recommend this movie not for its comedic attributes, but for its heart. The movie is touching. The characters have a lot of gumption and you can’t help but want them to succeed. The movie is a great male bonding film and has a lot of great qualities about it. Sure the actors occasionally get a little lazy with their Jamaican accents, and the movie starts out a little slow. But by the end of the movie you will be feeling a little uplifted.
Go rent or buy Cool Runnings this movie will charm you.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4