Cool Runnings (1993)
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74% of critics liked it
(31 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(470,620 ratings)
Cool Runnings fictionalizes the true story of a bobsledding team from Jamaica making it to the Olympics. The tale begins when Derice Bannock (Leon), realizing that due to an accident his chances of qualifying for Jamaica's 1988 Olympic track team are dashed, scrounges around looking for another… More Cool Runnings fictionalizes the true story of a bobsledding team from Jamaica making it to the Olympics. The tale begins when Derice Bannock (Leon), realizing that due to an accident his chances of qualifying for Jamaica's 1988 Olympic track team are dashed, scrounges around looking for another sport for the competition. Since ex-United States gold medal bobsledding winner Irv Blitzer (John Candy) now lives in Jamaica, Derice chooses bobsledding, convincing Irv to coach the team. Derice then forms his team. He gets his friend Sanka Cofie (Doug E. Doug) to join up and recruits Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis), a young man who lacks self-confidence, and Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba), a disagreeable and bitter malcontent. After setbacks and near disasters, the group jells as team members and they head off to the Olympics to compete for an Olympic spot. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Jon Turteltaub
- Written By
- Lynn Siefert, Tommy Swerdlow, Michael Goldberg
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Oct 1, 1993 Wide
- On DVD
- Jul 17, 2001
- Studio
- Disney
Critic Reviews
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Leonard Klady, Variety
The offbeat, fact-based saga is enlivened by the perfect balance of humor, emotion and insight and should be one of the true sleepers among fall box office releases.
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, Time Out
Travelogue shots of happy Jamaicans dancing in the sun give way to patronising comedy.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
A cute, buoyant sports fantasy, jolted along by a reggae soundtrack and playfully acted by an appealing cast.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
Entirely mediocre and forgettable
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The ghost of Stepin Fetchit is hovering in the tropical ether.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Leon
as Derice Bannock
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Doug E. Doug
as Sanka Coffie
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Malik Yoba
as Yul Brenner
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Rawle D. Lewis
as Junior Bevil
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John Candy
as Irv Blitzer
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Larry Gilman
as Larry
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Peter Outerbridge
as Josef Grool
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Paul Coeur
as Roger
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Raymond J. Barry
as Kurt Hemphill
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Jay Brazeau
as Kroychzech
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Charles Harvey
as Cop #1
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Charles Hyatt
as Whitby Bevil Jr.
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Campbell Lane
as Shindler
- Phill Lewis
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Winston Stona
as Coolidge
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Matthew Walker
as German Official
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Fitz Weir
as Uncle Ferte
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John Chapin Morgan
as Himself
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Michael London
as Heckler
- Jaki Brown-Karman
- Chemin Sylvia Bernard
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Bill Dow
as Registration Official
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David Lovgren
as Swiss Captain


