I, like so many other people over these past few weeks, was absolutely addicted to watching the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. I couldn't get enough of it! I witnessed just about every medal Canada won and I got goosebumps every time I heard our National Anthem played. Generally, I'm not a big sports watcher. But there's something about watching competitive sports in a national arena that just thrills me to bits. Seeing the work, talent and determination that all of the athletes from all around the world bring to the Olympics makes me root for each and every one of them. (And if the Canadian athletes just happen to win more gold medals then anyone else , well all the better eh.)
A friend of mine, who knew I was going through Olympics withdrawal, brought in her copy of Cool Runnings for me to watch. I had told her a few days earlier that I'd never seen it before which shocked her. When I told her it was because I heard the movie was bad she almost kicked me (just kidding, she's not THAT violent). She insisted that whoever told me that had no idea what they were talking about. And she told me to go home, watch the movie and then write a review about it. Because I'm afraid of her and I always do what she tells me to...well here I am.
Cool Runnings is directed by John Turteltaub and it is inspired by the true events of the first Jamaican bobsled team that was ever formed and subsequently competed at the Calgary Olympic Games in 1988. Because the film is 'inspired by' true events (not 'based on'), all of the characters in the movie are fictional. In the film, the main character is Derice Bannock (played by Leon) a young Jamaican athlete who is tripped at an Olympic qualifying track meet. Although his dreams of running for gold are squashed in that instant, he does not give up his dream of going to the Olympics. Instead he enlists the help of an American bobsled coach (played by John Candy) and convinces three other Jamaicans to join his team and take part in Olympic history.
As the four-man team learn the ropes of the sport, friendships slowly form and personal obstacles are tackled. But the true challenge lays ahead for them in Calgary where they must, for the first time, familiarize themselves with ice and snow while the whole world watches their every move.
This film is a Walt Disney movie. It's goofy and funny and loaded with slap stick comedy. Some of the characters are pretty outrageous - especially Sanka Coffee (played by Doug E. Doug) who is constantly cold, sings silly songs and kisses an egg for good luck. John Candy has some funny moments in the movie but he's more of the inspirational backbone of the film. He's got a line in the film that I loved: "A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it" And it was a real pleasure just to see him on screen again. The Swiss bobsled team are the 'bad guys' of the movie (them and the Canadian -25 degree weather) and they are the team that the Jamaicans aspire to as they try to prove to the world that they too deserve to be there.
What I loved the most about this film was all the stuff that was true - basically what they accomplished at the Calgary games. Four guys who had never set foot on ice before came to the Winter Olympics and performed. The ending of the film (which I cannot tell you about- I don't know if you saw the 1988 Olympics or not) had me crying and cheering. And I felt like I was watching the Vancouver games all over again. I didn't care that I was shouting 'Go Jamaica!' instead of 'Go Canada!'. I didn't care that I was rooting for a bunch of sweet goofy guys that didn't really exist. I loved the spirit of the film. And if you like a good laugh while rooting for the underdog, you'll love it too!
After watching this movie, I did some research about the actual events that took place in 1988. I found out that the Jamaican team was welcomed with open arms by all the other bobsled competitors (no bad Swiss team to be found). In fact, many other countries donated sleds to the Jamaican team to use while in Calgary. I also found out that the bobsled runs depicted in the film are accurate and that one of the runs is the actual footage from the games. Finding out more about the 'true heroes' of the story made me love the movie even more.
Cool Runnings now officially goes right up there with other 'true story' favourites of mine. (Movies that include Rudy and Seabiscuit). And to my friend -who is not the least bit scary but loves to have a laugh- thanks so much for the recommendation. Wanna kiss my egg?
