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Leon, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, Rawle D. Lewis, John Candy ... see more see more... , Larry Gilman , Peter Outerbridge , Paul Coeur , Raymond J. Barry , Jay Brazeau , Charles Harvey , Charles Hyatt , Campbell Lane , Phill Lewis , Winston Stona , Matthew Walker , Fitz Weir , John Chapin Morgan , Michael London , Jaki Brown-Karman , Chemin Sylvia Bernard , Bill Dow , David Lovgren

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 qu... read more read more...alifying 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

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77% liked it

470,620 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

31 critics

PG, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Release Date: October 1, 1993

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DVD Release Date: July 17, 2001

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Stats: 24,839 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (24,839)

  • jmanard52
    May 11, 2008
    jmanard52
    John Candy always makes me laugh even in this Disney flick.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 9, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Cool Runnings is a very good comedy about a Jamaican Bob Sled team. This is a well made comedy with lots of laughs, a decent cast, and of course the brilliance of John Candy. There are plenty of good things to enjoy about this film, and it surprised me quite a bit. Cool Runnings ... read moreis lots of fun, and is one of the better underdog comedies out there. The film is not perfect, however it's very entertaining. The film has a good cast, and has a very original idea for its plot. The film funny, and the cast do a good job at delivering the laughs. John Candy one of his last performances here, as this was one of three final films he starred in before he died. Candy as usual shines here, and delivers a good performance. This is a very good comedy that is simply lots of fun. The performances are good, the story is interesting and the laughs are plentiful. I enjoyed this film more that your regular sports comedy, and at times Cool Runnings manages to be better than most sports comedies. This film is a classic of sports comedies, and should get more recognition. This is a good film to watch with friends, and you're guaranteed plenty of laughs. John Candy is great here, and his performance alone makes this film worth seeing. Cool Runnings is a childhood favorite of mine, and is a film worth seeing. The films plot may seem a tad ridiculous, but it's totally worth watching. A fun filled comedy that will make you laugh.
  • fb100000212943704
    September 3, 2011
    fb100000212943704
    "Cool Runnings" is a film that shouldn't be good, but is. It isn't a masterpiece, it doesn't excel in any particular technique of filmmaking, nor is the acting the greatest, or the directing impossible to repeat. Yet, it is a film that makes you feel, in many different ways.

    Tel... read moreling the story of the first Jamaican bobsled team, and starring John Candy, Leon, Doug E.Doug and others, the film delivers a compelling, emotional, story that inspires at the same time.

    As I said earlier, technical aspects or acting/directing aspects, aren't the best. They don't make the film what it is. What makes the film is the brilliant, and also true, story behind it.

    The underdogs, a Jamaican bobsled team, it all seems ridiculous. You hate the characters at the beginning, they managed to irritate me in many different ways, but by the end, you have made friends and you're rooting more than any of the crowds that probably did watch the event live.

    A family favourite, it can cheer you up no matter what, as you find your hairs standing on end and a tear forming in your eye by the end of this little, un-important, yet great film.

    ***' 3 & A Half Star
  • fb100002359227440
    July 22, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Entertaning, funny and inspirational, Cool Runnings, bring a good cast and screenplay. Probably the best work of Jon Turteltaub. Fresh.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    October 20, 2010
    MeetMeinMontauk
    I remember watching this on a bus to a field trip. I don't remember much, but I think I liked it.
  • 76Majikat
    June 19, 2010
    76Majikat
    Based on the true story of the 1988 Jamaican bob-sled team, this comical American-come-Jamaican film is quite the 90?s classic. Love the Jamaican input here, but found the stereotypical Hollywood presence in the slightly corny ending.
  • DrZeek
    February 16, 2010
    DrZeek
    Sanka Coffie: Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, its bobsled time! COOL RUNNINGS!

    In the spirit of the Olympic games, I'll review one of my favorite sports movies. Every time I watch it I have myself a good time. It's funny, has a nice sports story to tell, and John Ca... read morendy.

    I'm not a big fan of sports movies. The only ones I like are the ones that offer something different than the standard mold. Besides what I mentioned above, this movie manages both to be a Disney comedy and one with good development and resolution to its story. There may be other movies that have handled this premise better, but to me, this just has the appeal that keeps me always enjoying it.

    The story involves a group of guys from Jamaica who have lost their chance to compete in the summer Olympics as sprinters. Their solution is to recruit a former bobsled coach, played by John Candy, living on the island to coach them into being the first Jamaican bobsled team. The coach, Irv Blitzer, was once a great man, who believed that sprinters would make great bobsledders, but never got a chance to prove this point after being caught cheating decades prior. Now he has a second chance to help these Jamaicans make a name for themselves and their country.

    Irv: Oh, yeah, just one little drawback to this delightful winter sport. The high-speed crash. Ooh! That hurt. Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No, no, no. They shatter.

    After a montage of them getting better in practice runs, the team heads to Canada to compete. There they are given a hard time due to the Blitzer's past and the other countries mockery of Jamaica. Of course the film goes on to show them becoming more respected and growing together as a team.

    This is the kind of movie that follows all conventions for the most part, but the chemistry between the lead characters, complete with development between the individuals and how they bond, as well as the comeback story for Candy's character turn this into a solid film. Sure, it is a PG Disney film, but its presented in a confident manner that lets it earn its few dramatic beats, despite the fact that it is a comedy.

    Its funny, memorable, and well made. Always a delight to watch.

    Sanka Coffie: I'm the driver.
    Irv: You're not. You're the brakeman.
    Sanka Coffie: You don't understand, I am Sanka Coffie, I am the best pushcart driver in all of Jamaica! I must drive! Do you dig where I'm coming from?
    Irv: Yeah, I dig where you're coming from.
    Sanka Coffie: Good.
    Irv: Now dig where I'm coming from. I'm coming from two gold medals. I'm coming from nine world records in both the two- and four-man events. I'm coming from ten years of intense competition with the best athletes in the world.
    Sanka Coffie: That's a hell of a place to be coming from!
  • fb733768972
    January 29, 2010
    fb733768972
    Hilarious! A story has never been more clever than this bobsled group of idiots!
  • ScoopOnline
    November 29, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    OUTSTANDING!
  • SirPant
    September 24, 2009
    SirPant
    Not a great film, shame it was Candy?s last!

View All Cool Runnings Reviews

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady
March 21, 2007
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. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Travelogue shots of happy Jamaicans dancing in the sun give way to patronising comedy. Full Review

Janet Maslin
May 21, 2003
Janet Maslin, New York Times

A cute, buoyant sports fantasy, jolted along by a reggae soundtrack and playfully acted by an appealing cast. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Entirely mediocre and forgettable Full Review

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

The ghost of Stepin Fetchit is hovering in the tropical ether. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

If you like underdog movies, you might like this one. Especially if you haven't seen very many. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

A wholesome, engaging, frequently hilarious, ultimately inspirational film. Full Review

Charles Cassady
December 14, 2010
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Delightful, tween-friendly story of Jamaican bobsledders. Full Review

July 31, 2008
Film4

A spirited -- if sentimental and conventional -- movie... Full Review

March 21, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Cool Runnings doesn't even rate a bronze medal as either sports film or comedy. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Sanka Coffie: Feel the Rhythm! Feel the Rhyme! Get on up, it's bobsled time! Cool Runnings!
    • Sanka Coffie: Rise and shine!
    • Derice Bannock: It's butt-whippin' time!
    • Sanka Coffie: Jamaica, we have a bobsled team!
    • Derice Bannock: Sanka you dead man.
    • Sanka Coffie: Yeah man.
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Cool Runnings Trivia

  • What movie was a true story about the Jamacian Bobsled team?  Answer »
  • In the movie Cool Runnings, what is lucky for Sanka   Answer »
  • What did the Jamaican bobsled team name their sled in the film 'Cool Runnings'?  Answer »
  • In Cool Runnings which country are the bobsleigh team representing?  Answer »
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