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Martian · 09-01-2005, 01:16 AM

Be Cool

John Travolta reprises his role as Chili Palmer and Danny DeVito as Martin Weir in little more than a cameo. This time Chili, who by now is disenchanted with the movie business, wants to produce music.

The problem I have with Be Cool is that it tries to be Get Shorty all over again. Several of the scenes are transplanted almost directly from the first film (we now have the Cadillac of hybrids instead of the Cadillac of minivans) and there are a number of indirect parallels. Had I not seen the original I would've enjoyed this movie immensely; however, the humour now seems stale, as most of it is recycled.

The thing that saves this movie from being totally abysmal is the acting. The Rock puts out a great performance as Elliot, the gay bodyguard, Andre 3000 plays rapper Dabu to perfection and Cedric the Entertainer as producer/extortionist Sin LaSalle works out surprisingly well. John Travolta of course fits the Chili Palmer role perfectly and Uma Thurman turns in an acceptable performance as Edie Athens. To her credit, there wasn't a whole lot to the character, meaning she really didn't have much to work with. Travolta and Thurman play well off each other, but fall short of the sizzling chemistry seen in Pulp Fiction, perhaps due to the inferior script to work with.

Be Cool can't decide what it wants to be. It alternately pokes fun at itself, sequels in general and Get Shorty, then attempts to change gears and become more serious. Throughout the film I got the feeling that it was an attempt to recapture the success of the first film by repackaging it, which means at the end of the day I paid twice for the same movie. If you watch this one, watch it because you like the actors. Don't watch it because of the film it follows.

4.5/10

09-01-2005, 01:16 AM	#1206 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Be Cool John Travolta reprises his role as Chili Palmer and Danny DeVito as Martin Weir in little more than a cameo. This time Chili, who by now is disenchanted with the movie business, wants to produce music. The problem I have with Be Cool is that it tries to be Get Shorty all over again. Several of the scenes are transplanted almost directly from the first film (we now have the Cadillac of hybrids instead of the Cadillac of minivans) and there are a number of indirect parallels. Had I not seen the original I would've enjoyed this movie immensely; however, the humour now seems stale, as most of it is recycled. The thing that saves this movie from being totally abysmal is the acting. The Rock puts out a great performance as Elliot, the gay bodyguard, Andre 3000 plays rapper Dabu to perfection and Cedric the Entertainer as producer/extortionist Sin LaSalle works out surprisingly well. John Travolta of course fits the Chili Palmer role perfectly and Uma Thurman turns in an acceptable performance as Edie Athens. To her credit, there wasn't a whole lot to the character, meaning she really didn't have much to work with. Travolta and Thurman play well off each other, but fall short of the sizzling chemistry seen in Pulp Fiction, perhaps due to the inferior script to work with. Be Cool can't decide what it wants to be. It alternately pokes fun at itself, sequels in general and Get Shorty, then attempts to change gears and become more serious. Throughout the film I got the feeling that it was an attempt to recapture the success of the first film by repackaging it, which means at the end of the day I paid twice for the same movie. If you watch this one, watch it because you like the actors. Don't watch it because of the film it follows. 4.5/10 __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame Last edited by Martian; 09-01-2005 at 01:56 AM..