BE COOL

John Travolta is one of those actors whose mere presence often make movies seem better than they are. He’s always a joy to watch even if the films he appears in are not. “The General’s Daughter” comes immediately to mind. The same can be said about “Be Cool.” But it’s the supporting players who give the movie whatever oomph it has. But first the plot.

“Be Cool”   is a belated sequel to “Get Shorty” from 1995. Travolta reprises his role as Chili Palmer without missing a beat. There, he was trying to get into the movie business.  This time he’s trying to get into the music biz. “Be Cool” has very few surprises in the plot since it follows the same basic pattern. Chili is trying to help the widow (Uma Thurman)  of a music producer (James Woods) who left behind some unpaid debts. He goes head to head with the Russian mob, a Gangsta Rap producer  (Cedric the Entertainer) and his entourage, and a lone wolf played by Harvey Keitel at his sleaziest best. Chili plays all these factions off against each other like a seasoned chess player.

The rest of the cast go through their routines like stand up comics trying to win over their audience in quick time.  Motor mouth Vince Vaughn struts around flailing his limbs nervously as if he were constantly under attack with a cattle prod. He’s a small time hit man wannabe music producer. He’s a perfect foil for The Rock as his sidekick. The Rock is not afraid to play against type as a gay thug wannabe actor. His effeminate schtick is hilarious. Andre Benjamin is likewise very funny as a trigger happy strong arm working for Cedric the Entertainer. They’re all after a piece of a singer that Chili swears will be the next big thing. Over the long haul the few bright spots these performers bring to “Be Cool” are far and few between. Some bits stand out while most fall victim to a script that tries too hard to be hip.

                                                                                                                      Copyright 2005

Some classic gangster spoofs that have stood the test of time  with one of the greatest movie gangsters of all time - Edward G. Robinson

“The Little Giant” (1933) - Robinson is a bootlegger with his own idea of class who tries to ingratiate himself with the upper crust.

“A Slight Case of Murder” (1938) - Prohibition is over and Robinson tries to go straight but he can’t escape his past and the bodies that keep showing up at a summer house he rents for himself and his cronies.

“Brother Orchid”  (1940) - Robinson is on the lam and hides out in a monastery plotting his climb to the top.  Surprisingly, or not, he finds God - but not before we witness one of the great screen transformations.

“Larceny Inc.” (1942) - Robinson and crew take over a luggage store next door to a bank whose vaults they hope to break into through the store’s basement. But the their luggage business becomes successful thwarting their plans and the gang that wants tries to hone in on the action. Hilarious from beginning to end. The premise has been used with equal comic effect in a classic episode of TV’s Maverick  with James Garner and by Woody Allen in “Small Time Crooks” (2000).