Review of Cool Runnings (1993) by Sean H — 03 Jun 2010

Cool Runnings is based on the true story of the debut of the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. This movie follows four Jamaicans with completely different personalities. It starts when the top Jamaican sprinter, Derrice Bannock was accidently tripped during a race by Junior Bevil, thus losing his chance to take part in the 1988 Summer Olympics. He later found out that an Olympic-champion bobsledder, Irving "Irv" Blitzer thought that Jamaican sprinters will excel in Bobsledding which inspires him to approach Irv with his push-cart champion friend, Sanka Coffie. They managed to persuade the unwilling Irv to coach them at bobsledding. Junior and Yul Brenner who also lost his Summer Olympic chance then joined the team.

Enthralled into this comedy is not just humour, but also friendship and perseverance. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film as this heartwarming story displays courage as they are willing to take up a new sport, especially a winter sport, since they are from a tropical country. It also teaches us the importance of friendship as the team trains together and help one another. Together, they also persevered despites the falls and failures during trainings. These Jamaican Bobsledders tells the world that it's okay to be different, and does their best to prove that they can be the best.

After months of training, overcoming difficulties and problems, will funny Sanka who always crack jokes, responsible Derrice, the leader of the team, protective Yul who refuses to let Junior be intimidated, motivated Junior who believed in himself and their encouraging Coach who presses them to train harder, if so, will they take home the gold and be the first Jamaican Bobsledding team ever to win a gold medal? Watch on to find out!