John Travolta in Be Cool
Unhappy with the movie bizz, Chili Palmer (John Travolta) gives the music industry a try, meeting rather eccentric people, getting shot at, getting a talented singer her big break (Christina Milian) and romancing the widow (Uma Thurman) of a music executive. All that and trying to avoid the hit man.
The Story
If you compare this movie to Get Shorty its predecessor, you will find it a huge dissatisfaction. Duh! Any time you compare an outstanding movie with others you will be measuring with a short stick. Of course it does not compare, that’s the reason why you loved that outstanding movie. Because it was so much better than movies that you usually see.
Be Cool is a good movie that is funny. It does not leave you in awe but it sure makes you laugh for a couple hours. You cannot watch this movie and say that it was not amusing. At times the story seems to take great leaps and be unrealistic, but this is not a drama, and that’s what comedies do. stretch reality to make “the funny”.
John Travolta
I love this guy. In Pulp Fiction, Face Off, and countless other movies he makes my cinematic day. In this movie, he was poorly used. It was as if he was just something that had to be there. Chili Palmer which he plays, had a few gem lines but was mostly uninspired.
I was anticipating his dancing with Uma but turned out to be a bust. It was more like a showcasing of Black Eye Peas than a “Pulp Fiction Dance Revival”. He was the big name of the movie but also the small part in the movie.
Uma Thurman
There is no way that I can ever not like Uma. She is a delicacy to my eyes. While she also had a flat tire type delivery in her performance, I was so distracted by her. that I did not care. If there is one thing in the movie that I really thought was a stretch was her (A rock groupie) being married to James Woods a slime bag who looks nothing rock and all sleaze.
James was one of the many cameos in this picture.
Vince Vaughn
Another actor from this movie that I adore is Vince Vaughn. I grew fond of him in movies such as Swingers, Return To Paradise, and Made. In most movies and also in this one, he plays arrogant,cocky, you can’t touch me, characters. In Be Cool however he did it with a gangsta, gettho, “I’m an adopted white guy in a black family” persona. He was consistently funny.
Got Chili?
Be Cool is not one of the best comedies or sequels, and it does not try to be. It is a good movie in its own way. Be Cool is funny, and filled with entertaining characters. It wont leave you in awe but it will deliver a ha ha ha.