 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Be Cool
- Review Date: June 4, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Watered-down sequel isn't meant for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has a lot of violence for a PG-13, though it's not very graphic. Characters are shot and beaten and some are killed. There is some strong language, including racial and anti-gay terms and a joke about how "f--k" can only be used once in a PG-13 movie, followed by its one use. Characters drink, and constant smoking is portrayed as cool. Many of the characters lie, cheat, steal, use force, and otherwise behave like lowlifes and crooks.
What's the story?
In this sequel to Get Shorty, "Shylock"/movie-lover Chili Palmer decides to dive into the music business,.taking over a record label owned by recently deceased mobster Tommy (James Woods), who was killed by the Russian mob. Chili also makes the moves on the dead mobster's girlfriend (Uma Thurman), and the two decide to make a star out of singer Linda (Christina Milian). But Chili faces danger in his new business endeavor as the Russians go after him, as well as a territorial music mogul (Harvey Keitel) and a hip-hop hit maker (Cedric the Entertainer) who's owed a large sum of money by the former owner of Chili's record label.
Is it any good?
While Get Shorty was cleverly plotted and brilliantly acted, BE COOL is just mildly amusing, with some slow patches in between. Cedric as usual steals the show with one of his best performances, Vince Vaughn is very funny as a Jewish white guy pretending to be black, but the musical numbers are not especially well staged, even the much-anticipated dance reunion of Travolta and his Pulp Fiction co-star, Uma Thurman.
There are some brief echoes of the original, with a few agreeably sly but understated digs at show business and a couple of clever shout-outs to the first film, but more often the jokes are just references, repetition, or imitation of Get Shorty just reminding us how much better it was. Get Shorty made fun of cynicism in show business; this movie is cynical. The first movie was about the show and the business. This one is just about everyone's getting paid. Chili's assessment of a character's movie pitch is a suitable review for this one: "You've got a premise and a setting but you don't have character arcs or a plot."
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how the characters in the movie decided what was important to them and who to trust. How will Sin's daughter feel about her father when she gets older? Why does Raji want to "act black?" In what way are the Dub MD's like today's rappers?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
not as good as GET SHORTY
NOT FUNNY AT ALL!
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Just love John
I so love John in this part even if the movie wasnt "too cool" he makes the movie cool just being the part!! His look, his moves, his voice..........YUM!!! I thought the dance scene they did was good!! Hubby and I enjoyed the movie!!!
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Teen, 15 years old
July 2, 2009
AGE
Fine for older kids, but be warned for under-14s
Watched it when I was ten - not right for anyone under 15, or a mature 14 year old. It was the first time I had ever heard so much swearing in my life. That, a sex scene, a few mob/gangsta/shooting scenes including a dad's hiding of a dead body from his little daughter being played for comedic effect, and a nasty pimp/manager who while surrounded by inappropriately attired girls tries to force another girl into obeying his will and staying under his control, are my memories of this movie. Not images you want stuck in your preteens head, trust me.
In short, older teens may enjoy it, but keep the littler ones away.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 11 years old
December 13, 2012
AGE
NOT FOR
PERVASIVE LANGUAGE!
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| Studio: | MGM/UA |
| Director: | F. Gary Gray |
| Cast: | John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 120 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 4, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | June 7, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, sensuality, and language including sexual references. |
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