Cool Runnings (1993)

When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writers:

Lynn Siefert (story), Michael Ritchie (story)

Stars:

John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leon	...	Derice Bannock
Doug E. Doug	...	Sanka Coffie
Rawle D. Lewis	...	Junior Bevil
Malik Yoba	...	Yul Brenner
John Candy	...	Irv
Raymond J. Barry	...	Kurt Hemphill
Peter Outerbridge	...	Josef Grool
Paul Coeur	...	Roger
Larry Gilman	...	Larry
Charles Hyatt	...	Whitby Bevil, Sr.
Winston Stona	...	Coolidge
Bertina Macauley	...	Joy Bannock
Pauline Stone Myrie	...	Momma Coffie
Kristoffer Cooper	...	Winston
Bill Dow	...	Registration Official

Storyline

Irving Blitzer disgraced himself when putting extra weights into his team's bob in the Olympics, resulting in his gold medal being taken away from him. Years later, Derice Bannock, son of a former friend of Irv, fails to qualify for the 100-yard sprint for the Olympics due to a stupid accident. But when he hears of Irving Blitzer living also on Jamaica, Derice decides to go to the Games anyway, if not as a sprinter, then as a bobsledder. After some starting problems, the first Jamaican bobsledding team is formed and heads for Calgary. In the freezing weather Derice, Sanka, Junior and Yul are only laughed at, since nobody can take a Jamaican bobsledding team led by a disgraced trainer seriously. But team spirit and a healthy self-confidence may lead to a few surprises in the upcoming Winter Games.

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Plot Keywords:

american played by canadian | runner | beard | track | audience | 

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Taglines:

Jamaican Bobsledders?

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Russian

Release Date:

1 October 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blue Maaga

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$68,856,263

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$154,856,263

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

M. Barrington Coolidge (Winston Stona), president of the Jamaican Olympic Committee, claims that his country only participates in boxing, cycling, and track. In addition to these three sports, Jamaica also fielded teams in table tennis and weightlifting at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.

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Goofs

When Derice Bannock and Sanka Coffie have set up a kissing booth; the camera zooms in and you see the old lady second in line and no sign of Joy Bannock. However, when the camera zooms in even more and the other lady walks away; Joy Bannock is first in line and Sanka Coffie gets the old lady.

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Quotes

Yul Brenner: How about I beat your butt right now?
Sanka Coffie: How about I draw a line down the middle of your head so it looks like a butt?

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Connections

Referenced in Sports Jeopardy!: Episode #2.45 (2016)

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Soundtracks

Jamaican Bobsledding Chant
Written by Malik Yoba, Charmaine LaCosta, Sabrina Cohen, Angela Wilks, and Linda Scott
Performed by Worl-A-Girl
Courtesy of Chaos/Columbia Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

A little gem

'Cool Runnings' is one of those prized and rare animals - a genuinely feel-good family movie that doesn't also make you feel stupid.

Based (rather loosely, I suspect) on the true story of the Jamaican bobsled team who competed in the Winter Olympics, against outrageous odds, ridicule, complete lack of snow in Jamaica, etc, etc - 'Cool Runnings' hardly puts a foot wrong as it moves towards its rousing ending. That ending is genuinely inspirational, lump-in-the-throat stuff, which so many serious sports movies have aimed at, and fallen short of.

Most miraculously, from my point of view, I actually found myself _liking_ John Candy, in this movie.

I'm giving this one 8 out of 10. It achieves its goals splendidly. Be sure to give it a look if you've not seen it before.