Be Cool
reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell &
Brian "The Naked Gun" Felts
Unhappy bullying his way through the movie industry, Chili Palmer, played once again by John Travolta (Ladder 49), finds a sterling young singer to help pave his way into the music business. Conflict comes has some Russian mob guys want him dead, after witnessing the slaying of his friend and record label exec Tommy, played by James Woods (Any Given Sunday).
In addition, the singer, named Linda Moon, played by darling youngster Christina Milian (Man of the House), is already under contract with wannabe hip-hop manager Raji, played by Vince Vaughn (Dodgeball), partnered with Nick Carr, played by Harvey Keitel (The Piano). If that's not enough, gangsta rap recording engineer and producer Sin LaSalle, played by Cedric the Entertainer (Man of the House), is owed money from Tommy's broke record label, and he wants payment from his widow Edie Athens, played by Uma Thurman (Kill Bill movies), whom is now under the protection and care of Chili.
So, eventually, everyone wants Chili dead for some reason. Meanwhile, Chili and Edie heats things up a bit, becoming a couple. Everyone pulls a gun on someone in this movie, threatens to kill someone at some point, and before you know it, all the bad guys are punished and the good people get to live their dreams once again.
The humor in this picture was fairly stale. Director F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Italian Job) was a poor choice to hire for this picture. His style of lengthy takes to fit in improv from actors was useless in this kind of comedy franchise. With this, "Be Cool" was no where near the kind of energy level or story writing "Get Shorty" was.
I absolutely do NOT believe everyone in the music industry carries a gun, as this picture portrays; NOR does everyone in the business get want they want from each other by threats and weapons. I have such a hard time with this, I simply couldn't bite the setting screenwriter Peter Steinfeld and novel writer Elmore Leonard presented. I bet neither person spent ANY time actually researching the music industry.
How sad is a movie when the best performance came from The Rock (The Rundown) playing a gay bodyguard? The Rock's contribution to the picture was very well prepared and not too over the top, as it could have been. His character had the only moments I actually laughed for.
Cedric the Entertainer, whom I generally do not enjoy seeing, did so much better in this picture than others I've seen him in lately. He played his character and stuck to it, without being "Cedric the Entertainer" to get more unnecessary and failed laughs.
The worst part of the picture came during this dance sequence between Chili and Edie, while the Black Eyed Peas were playing at a club. The scene was totally useless, and after a few minutes, I realized I was watching an obvious throw-back to Travolta and Thurman's dance scene in 1994's "Pulp Fiction." Somehow, I don't see them getting Academy Award nominations this time around though.
If you're a big Uma Thurman fan, you will want to catch her first scene. Two words, sun bath.
Overall, I did not like "Be Cool." I liked a couple things in it, but for the most part, it is thoroughly blah. If may have been better if it had ONE thing different, Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty) as director.
Benn - Where's the Humanity?
I apparently am in the minority because I thought this movie was very enjoyable. I have not seen
the movie "Get Shorty" so I have nothing to compare this too, but I thought it was funny and had me going
from beginning to end.
John Travolta was great as Chili Palmer. He gave the character an arrogant confidence that I assume he
showed in Get Shorty. Travolta is really doing nice work with the roles he has been getting lately, "Battlefield:
Earth" excluded. He matched up well with Uma Thurman and I think they should continue to do more movies together.
I agree with Benn in that Uma's opening scene with her sunbathing is awesome.
I also agree with Benn that the star of the show was Duane Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock. It's amazing
that this guy got his original acting instruction from being a professional wrestler. Rarely do you
see an action hero take risks with character like this and Johnson pulls it off great. Another actor
worth mentioning is Andre Benjamin a.k.a. Andre 3000. This rapper was quite funny as the borderline
inept entourage/gangmember Dabu. He kept the scenes funny and again I feel another risk that you normally
don't see rappers take.
I, however, disagree with Benn on the choice of F. Gary Gray as director. I thought the choices
he made were good and at no time did I feel a loss of energy. I also enjoyed the way he shot the
obvious tribute to "Pulp Fiction" dance scene between Thurman and Travolta. I think Benn is wrong
in that the scene was not totally useless, it was needed to give the characters a bond that would
allow them to start a romance that in reality would never have happened. Don't blame the dance scene,
blame the romance.
Like Benn, I too liked Cedrick the Entertainer. He did not play his character to ugly and provided
for some humor which can not happen sometimes when you play a character to ugly, mean, or vengeful.
I did think that Vince Vaughn's character was annoying, even though I personally have been around
white guys who think there are black, they, as well as Vaughn's character, deserve to get their
asses kicked.
I am going to tell you to see this movie. I think it is entertaining and fun, and sometimes that
is what movies are supposed to be. Brian - the Naked Gun
This sequel to "Get Shorty" wasn't even close to the same level of entertainment as its preceding film. "Be Cool" simply joins the list of dull, uninspired sequels to somewhat clever original comedies.