Parents' Guide to

Cool It

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Controversial but hopeful global warming documentary.

Movie PG 2010 88 minutes
Cool It Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Since researching and publishing his book "The Skeptical Environmentalist" in 2001, academic Bjorn Lomborg has become active in trying to stop global warming. He has taken the controversial view that, though the crisis is real, the world is not going to end anytime soon, and that there are more practical ways to spend money on solutions. This documentary introduces us to Lomborg, defends his positions, and outlines some of his ideas. Scientists explain how some of these concepts could work in both the short- and long-term. In general, this movie debunks the scare tactics used by An Inconvenient Truth, leaving off with the hopeful notion that the crisis is treatable.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Cool It is forced to deal with the controversy and opposition surrounding its host Lomborg, and it can come across as a bit defensive, causing viewers to question numbers and facts presented here. Nevertheless, regardless of the previous existence of An Inconvenient Truth, Cool It still offers a persuasive, if alternate, argument on the state of the climate crisis.

Director Ondi Timoner does not only focus on Lomborg; he interviews many scientists and thinkers, most of whom support Lomborg's ideas, but some who do not. The good news is that, unlike many issue-oriented documentaries, this one has a fairly positive attitude, and is not out to frighten viewers or make them angry. It simply wants viewers to ask some questions, and not to give up hope. However, as with any documentary -- An Inconvenient Truth included -- it's good to keep an open mind and refuse to take everything that's here at face value.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Bjorn Lomborg is right or wrong here. Does this movie provide enough information to make an educated decision? What else do you need to know about Lomborg to better understand where he's coming from?

  • How does Cool It compare with An Inconvenient Truth? Is it less scary? Why?

  • According to this movie, what can an individual do to help combat global warming?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate