Cool Runnings (DVD)

Having not watched Cool Runnings until recently I thought I was missing out on something, ‘it’s a cool movie’ said my friend when we saw it in the bargain bin, so I thought, hmmm, I’m gonna have to watch this. I can remember it coming out, but I couldn’t remember what it was about until I saw the cover again, oh, it’s a Walt Disney movie, this ones got to be good then, not excellent though, a Walt Disney film has never been excellent for me. I also realised then that John Candy was in it, who for me was a good actor. Sadly he died in 1994, just one year after making Cool Runnings. He’s a missed actor who only lived to ...

I’ve never really been a fan of Winter sports, so the entry of a Jamaican bobsleigh team into the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary pretty much passed me by. What I am a fan of, however, is a decent comedy film, so the release of "Cool Runnings", supposedly based on the story of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team, was unlikely to do the same. Sanka Coffie is the best pushcart driver on Jamaica, just about to win his 7th pushcart derby in a row. His best friend is Derice Bannock, who is about to win his place in Jamaica's 1988 Olympic team to compete in the 100 metres and follow in the footsteps of his father, who had won a gold medal in the 200 metres some ...

Based on a true story, the main plot centres on four men of different backgrounds who are brought together to form the first Jamaican bobsliegh team! As obscure as this may sound it makes a brilliant film! The film starts by focusing on each of the athletes individually. Three of them are top quality sprinters and have never met when they come face to face in a very important race. A race which would be a big break for the winner. All three are doing well when the worst happens - one of them falls over and trips the others. Their hopes are dashed... Then they meet John Candy, who plays an ex-olympic champion shamed for cheating and is keen to rebuild ...