Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #486 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-04-19
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, French, Italian
• Subtitled in: English, Dutch
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on an improbable but true story, Cool Runnings concerns the Jamaican bobsled team that competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Director Jon Turteltaub (Phenomenon) does a fine job with both the absurdity of the situation (the athletes had never even seen snow) and the passion behind it (their desire to compete and win). John Candy, in one of his last roles, is touching as a disgraced coach who seizes the opportunity to work with the Jamaicans as a chance for redemption. The bobsled scenes look good and the races are exciting. The climax, which is entirely unexpected, takes the film to a wholly different level, even if events in the story don't quite match the facts. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Synopsis
Inspired by the true story of the first Jamaican Olympic Bobsled Team. The always appealing Candy is the ex-champion who takes on the four islanders who know nothing about the sport and whips them into champions.

Customer Reviews

One Of The Best Films Ever
A bold claim to make, you may feel, as this is only a light-hearted comedy. But there is just something about this film, that makes it far better than any 'family film' I have seen.

The Jamiacan setting is beautiful and sunny, and the actors are a hilarious, perfect combination. Doug.E.Doug is definately the star of the show, playing the uproarious 'Sanka'. The supporting roles are also strong, Leon Robinson as 'Ben Bannock' is delightful, endearing and down-right hot! Also the late John Candy acts brilliantly as the stubborn come gentle 'Irving Blitzer'

Some may think this film is all too predictable, but the ending will bring a tear to the most hardened male's eye! Overall, I'd have to label this film "Un-missable". I honestly think that it is the best family-comedy film ever made, and perhaps did not gain the recognition it deserved.

Don't miss it!

Cool Runnings
I must admit that I’m a sucker for a good sports underdog movie and I also like a well executed family film, so it’s not really surprising that I rate “Cool Runnings” as a great film and definitely one I would recommend.

Very loosely based on the true story of the Jamaican Bobsleigh team who competed in the 1988 Calhary Winter Olympic Games the film shows the gathering of four unlikely Olympic heroes from the sun drenched island of Jamaica. Derice Bannock is the 100 metre sprinter who denied a place in the Jamaican athletics squad after a freak accident concerning two other soon to be members of the bobsleigh team, Junior Bevil and Yul Brenner, searches out an American ex-bobsleigh champion living in a drunken stupor on the island. Irving 'Irv' Blitzer is a wreak of a man and it takes some considerable persuading on the part of Derice and his best friend and forth member of the team, Sanka Coffie to get Irv interested in coaching the team.

Like a hundred of the best sporting underdog movies that have gone before and will no-doubt come again the story of the team’s journey to the Olympics are a veritable roller-coaster ride of various highs and lows and although some of them are clichéd to the hilt you can’t help but be entertained by them all. The rousing finale is one of the most moving ever seen and remains a firm favourite film scene ever of mine. But as I say I’m a sucker for this sort of thing.

The main reason why the film works so well and why the rather hackneyed plot gets away with it all is quite simple. Firstly John Candy is simply brilliant as the cynical but fiercely loyal Irv Blitzer. This is the sort of light comical role that he always excelled at and here he is well worth the money. Secondly the four members of the bobsleigh team are played with such enthusiasm by the four actors involved one just can’t help by be drawn into the film’s spell. Best of the bunch is the high energy Doug E. Doug as Sanka who mixes manic comedy with sweet home truths in a great style.

It’s not a classic film and it was never going to sweep the awards ceremonies clean, it was never meant to, but what it is a fine example of is a rather touching family film that will entertain and delight.

the best film ever!!!!!!
This film is the best film that i have ever seen, a true high quality family film that still makes a wonderfully refreshing change to all the violence and filth that seems to dominate the big screen nowadays. I have seen cool runnings so many times i have lost count but am still in floods of tears every time in watch the ending. I have the soundtrack to the film and it is also very good. I would recomend this film to anyone.