Cool Runnings (1994) (Disney) [VHS]: John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba, Raymond J. Barry, Peter Outerbridge, Paul Coeur, Larry Gilman, Charles Hyatt, Winston Stona, Bertina Macauley, Jon Turteltaub, Christopher Meledandri, Dawn Steel, Jeffrey Bydalek, Lynn Siefert, Michael Goldberg, Michael Ritchie, Tommy Swerdlow: Amazon.co.uk: Video

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Based on an improbable but true story, Cool Runnings concerns the Jamaican bobsled team that 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 seen snow) and the passion behind it (their desire to compete and win). John Candy, in one of his last roles, is touching as a disgraced coach who seizes the opportunity to work with the Jamaicans as a chance for redemption. The bobsled scenes look good and the races are exciting. The climax, which is entirely unexpected, takes the film to a wholly different level, even if events in the story don't quite match the facts. --Tom Keogh

Synopsis

Four Jamaican athletes decide to enter the Winter Olympics as their country's first bobsled team. Based on a true story.

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Customer Reviews

34 Reviews

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of The Best Films Ever, 10 July 2006

By	One Love, One Heart, Lets Get Together... (GREAT Britain) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994] (DVD)

A bold claim to make, you may feel, as this is only a light-hearted comedy. But there is just something about this film, that makes it far better than any 'family film' I have seen.

The Jamiacan setting is beautiful and sunny, and the actors are a hilarious, perfect combination. Doug.E.Doug is definately the star of the show, playing the uproarious 'Sanka'. The supporting roles are also strong, Leon Robinson as 'Ben Bannock' is delightful, endearing and down-right hot! Also the late John Candy acts brilliantly as the stubborn come gentle 'Irving Blitzer'

Some may think this film is all too predictable, but the ending will bring a tear to the most hardened male's eye! Overall, I'd have to label this film "Un-missable". I honestly think that it is the best family-comedy film ever made, and perhaps did not gain the recognition it deserved.

Don't miss it!

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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool Runnings, 15 Jan 2006

By	Rich Milligan (Thatcham, Berkshire) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994] (DVD)

I must admit that I’m a sucker for a good sports underdog movie and I also like a well executed family film, so it’s not really surprising that I rate “Cool Runnings” as a great film and definitely one I would recommend.

Very loosely based on the true story of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team who competed in the 1988 Calhary Winter Olympic Games the film shows the gathering of four unlikely Olympic heroes from the sun drenched island of Jamaica. Derice Bannock is the 100 metre sprinter who denied a place in the Jamaican athletics squad after a freak accident concerning two other soon to be members of the bobsleigh team, Junior Bevil and Yul Brenner, searches out an American ex-bobsleigh champion living in a drunken stupor on the island. Irving 'Irv' Blitzer is a wreak of a man and it takes some considerable persuading on the part of Derice and his best friend and forth member of the team, Sanka Coffie to get Irv interested in coaching the team.

Like a hundred of the best sporting underdog movies that have gone before and will no-doubt come again the story of the team’s journey to the Olympics are a veritable roller-coaster ride of various highs and lows and although some of them are clichéd to the hilt you can’t help but be entertained by them all. The rousing finale is one of the most moving ever seen and remains a firm favourite film scene ever of mine. But as I say I’m a sucker for this sort of thing.

The main reason why the film works so well and why the rather hackneyed plot gets away with it all is quite simple. Firstly John Candy is simply brilliant as the cynical but fiercely loyal Irv Blitzer. This is the sort of light comical role that he always excelled at and here he is well worth the money. Secondly the four members of the bobsleigh team are played with such enthusiasm by the four actors involved one just can’t help by be drawn into the film’s spell. Best of the bunch is the high energy Doug E. Doug as Sanka who mixes manic comedy with sweet home truths in a great style.

It’s not a classic film and it was never going to sweep the awards ceremonies clean, it was never meant to, but what it is a fine example of is a rather touching family film that will entertain and delight.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best film ever!!!!!!, 6 Jan 2006

By	"inlove03uk" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cool Runnings [DVD] [1994] (DVD)

This film is the best film that i have ever seen, a true high quality family film that still makes a wonderfully refreshing change to all the violence and filth that seems to dominate the big screen nowadays. I have seen cool runnings so many times i have lost count but am still in floods of tears every time in watch the ending. I have the soundtrack to the film and it is also very good. I would recomend this film to anyone.

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