 | 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. |
Cool Runnings
- Review Date: July 27, 2004
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 1993
Common Sense Media says
Delightful, tween-friendly story of Jamaican bobsledders.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this underdog sports movie is based on the Jamaican bobsled team's appearance in the 1988 Olympic Games, the characters, most of the situations, and all of the conflict are heavily fictionalized. The resulting feel-good fairytale offers positive messages about sportsmanship, going after your dreams, and believing in yourself ... as well as some cartoonish potrayals of both the Jamaican people and their culture and some of their bobsleddding rivals (particularly the East Germans). A number of bobsled accidents are depicted, and there's one brief barroom brawl -- but no injuries or blood. Expect occasional mild swearing and lots of visible products/logos.
What's the story?
COOL RUNNINGS is loosely based on the real-life 1988 Jamaican bobsled team. When an accident prevents Derice Bannock (Leon) from making Jamaica's Olympic track team, he searches for another way to compete. Derice convinces Irv Blitzer (John Candy), a former gold medalist, to coach his team. The team overcomes some serious setbacks to make it to the Olympic games.
Is it any good?
You've seen this underdog material done before, from the sublime Rocky to the embarrassingly cliched (virtually any Rocky sequel). Cool Runnings taps both qualities. At one end you've got the Jamaican team, a colorful, contrived bunch of squabblers who predictably learn to pull together and defy their detractors (mainly a rival team of stereotyped East German Nazi-Commie storm troopers). But then comes the real-world finale, when the heroes lose the race but achieve a much greater goal, symbolizing what the Olympics truly mean to athletes around the globe. Seldom in sports movies has defeat looked so noble.
Younger viewers may want to learn more about Olympic bobsledding, or Jamaica, if only to sort out the facts from the fiction. The novice 1988 Jamaican bobsledders were actually conceived by a businessman and an ex-diplomat, and they did wipe out in the midst of a spectacular performance. "Irv," however, and the other characters are screenwriter inventions, and they seem like it.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about why the filmmakers made things up for the movie, rather than sticking with the true story. Why do you think that happens?
Is bobsledding as engaging a sport as football, baseball, or basketball? Why or why not?
What is the movie saying about sportsmanship and the spirit of the Olympic Games?
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Loved it
This is a great movie!!! I loved it! they do swear in this movie though!
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Parent of 8, 8, and 10 year old
February 20, 2011
AGE
My kids loved it.
Funny story of the Jamaican bobsledders. The characters have to work hard and overcome struggle. Interesting look at a different culture (OK, a cartoonish representation of another culture). Curse words are used very infrequently.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 13 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Great
Probubly the only clean comady out there any more not that much languge
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AGE
Great movie
Five words:
hilarious
clean
uplifting
watch it
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AGE
Great movie
Five words:
hilarious
clean
uplifting
watch it
Was this review useful?
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AGE
Approved for Tween and Teen Audiences Only! Watch at Own Risk!
This movie's hilarious! The intense moments are epic, the cast is clever, and of course, the messages are inspiring and moment you to work hard at what you love, so the past will wash away before your eyes. Only problem is the wise-ass statements that might inspire your kids with inadequite behavior ,which is not the true message of the movie. Don't get too caught up on that result! Very good movie for mature kids.
What other families should know:
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AGE
Approved for Tween and Teen Audiences Only! Watch at Own Risk!
This movie's hilarious! The intense moments are epic, the cast is clever, and of course, the messages are inspiring and moment you to work hard at what you love, so the past will wash away before your eyes. Only problem is the wise-ass statements that might inspire your kids with inadequite behavior ,which is not the true message of the movie. Don't get too caught up on that result! Very good movie for mature kids.
What other families should know:
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Kid, 12 years old
February 26, 2010
AGE
GREAT under-rated family movie!
This is a realllllly relalllllllly good movie for kids 7 and up, they will definitely enjoy it and its also very inspirational and has good rolemodels because its all about these jamaican people who try to win gold at the winter olympics and its a true story.
it will probably appeal more to younger kids, although i LOVED it and I know LOTS of adults who really enjoyed it as well. If its fun, safe and inspirational family viewing your after, you cannot go past Cool Runnings!
There are a few mild insults and some archive footage of bobsled crashes but nothing graphic. The film talks about loyalty, honesty and persistence and bravery, which is good for kids! :)
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Kid, 12 years old
March 12, 2010
AGE
this movie is a great movie though the word ass is repeated several times along with crap. There is a fist fight and some mean bobsledding temas just taunting each other. There is a crash in the bobsled but nothing to serios it is hilarious and good for kidsages7 and up
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Studio: | Walt Disney Pictures |
| Director: | Jon Turteltaub |
| Cast: | Doug E. Doug, John Candy, Malik Yoba |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 98 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 10, 1993 |
| DVD release date: | July 20, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | brief language |
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