John Travolta and the rest of the cast of Be Cool deliver a slick and entertaining sequel to 1995’s Get Shorty that keeps the laughs rolling from start to finish.
The film was directed by F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job and A Man Apart) based on the novel by Elmore Leonard. It has a huge cast of Hollywood stars including Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Cedric The Entertainer, Harvey Keitel and The Rock.
The movie picks up after Get Shorty and finds former loan shark Chili Palmer (Travolta) growing bored with the movie business and wanting to start something new. When his friend, a record producer played by James Woods, is murdered, Palmer decides to go into the music business with Woods’ widow, Edie Athens (Thurman).
Palmer’s mob past quickly comes in handy as he finds out that the music business is just as crooked as the mafia. Palmer puts his past skills to work as he helps Athens’s record company get out from under a thug producer, played by Cedric. He also proceeds to launch the career of Linda Moon, a talented new singer that Palmer helps get out of a bad recording contract.
Cedric the Entertainer steals the laughs in Be Cool
Travolta does a great job as Palmer and maintains the presence and style that made the character so cool in the first film. No matter what the situation, Palmer is ready and seems to always have a way out.
Travolta makes that character trait believable through the way he carries himself and the attitude he maintains from start to finish. Palmer may not be Travolta’s most iconic character that he has portrayed, but the character does seem perfectly suited for the actor.
Uma Thurman also shines in the role of Edie Athens – an ex-laundry girl for Aerosmith who now has dreams of producing her own hit music. She does a great job of heating up the screen with Travolta and you have to give a silent chuckle when the two dance together again in a scene that reminds of Pulp Fiction.
Although the plot of Be Cool might be a little lighter than Get Shorty and have more slapstick comedy, the movie is very entertaining thanks to its ensemble cast of stars – especially Cedric the Entertainer, The Rock and Vince Vaughn.
Cedric the Entertainer steals the spotlight in every scene and is extremely funny as a “Gangsta” Rap producer who lives in the suburbs and has prep college education. Along with his gang of thugs, including Andre 3000 from Outcast, Cedric bumbles from one scene to the next trying to outsmart Palmer.
Travolta is smooth and cool as Chili Palmer
Vince Vaughn delivers several laughs through his portrayal of a white man who thinks he is black and dresses like a pimp. Along with his gay bodyguard, played by the Rock, Vaughn tries to get Linda Moon, played by Christina Milian, back from Palmer.<!--page-->
Main Menu Screen
Vaughn also schemes to set his partner (played by Keitel) up against Cedric the Entertainer. This poor attempt, along with many other of his plans, ends badly for Vaughn who constantly screws up due to his character’s stupidity.The Rock steals a few scenes from some of the more veteran actors thanks to his performance as the gay bodyguard who dreams of being a singer and an actor. You can’t help but laugh out loud when he performs a scene from the cheerleading movie Bring It On.
Although the movie is funny and entertaining, it does have some flaws that don’t ruin the movie, but make it drag from time to time.
Vaughn’s character, who is funny at first, tends to get annoying towards the end of the film. He also becomes predictable and the punch line of too many jokes. The Rock’s gay bodyguard suffers the same problem as they continue to follow the gay stereotypes that have been set in so many movies before.
Another problem in the film is the fact that the mobs, especially the Russian mobsters that Palmer encounters, come off as more cartoon characters than truly scary people. This makes Travolta seem less cool since the people he is staring down and outsmarting are all idiots to begin with.
The DVD comes load with special features including deleted scenes, a gag reel, a 22 minute behind the scenes look at Be Cool, a music video, and several close up features on some of the movie’s younger stars including The Rock and Milian.
Special Feature Screen
Of all the special features, the best is the gag reel. It includes actors screwing up their lines – which is always entertaining to see with veteran actors, actors being interrupted by cell phones ringing, and outside noises – such as trains or planes. Another funny part of the gag reel, which is about 10 minutes long, is Uma Thurman stalling her sports car as she and Travolta try to drive away.
Overall, Be Cool is an enjoyable movie that has a huge cast and lots of laughs. Fans of Get Shorty may be a little disappointed in the film’s slapstick, but Travolta’s performance captures the character’s style that he established in the first film. I recommend Be Cool to anyone who wants to relax, enjoy some popcorn and watch a fun movie that you don’t have to follow too closely.
Be Cool is now available at Amazon and available for pre-order at AmazonUK .
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