From its opening sequence, fuelled by supposedly "tongue in cheek" jokes about the main character's own hatred of sequels, one is aware that Be Cool is going to be anything but. In fact, F. Gary Gray's sequel to 1995's clever and entertaining Get Shorty is a ridiculous mess and an early candidate for the worst film of 2005.
The only significant remnant of its predecessor is John Travolta's character (Chilli Palmer), an ex-mobster turned movie producer who is fed up with the film industry and decides to take a stab at music. He teams up with Edie (Uma Thurman), a record executive and former "laundry girl" for Aerosmith, to launch the career of Linda Moon (Christina Milian). Unfortunately, Chilli still has his fair share of enemies: a wide array of goofballs played by Cedric the Entertainer, the Rock, Harvey Keitel, Vince Vaughn and Outkast's Andre 3000, among others.
Be Cool attempts parody but generally what results feels like an extra long, extra bad Saturday Night Live sketch, complete with numerous homophobic and racist jokes. It's hard to believe respectable actors like Thurman or Kietel would sink to these levels, and even John Travolta could do better. Some of the sequences are downright horrifying, specifically an attempt at recreating Pulp Fiction's Travolta/Thurman dance sequence at a Black Eyed Peas concert. Please, don't Be Cool. (MGM)
The only significant remnant of its predecessor is John Travolta's character (Chilli Palmer), an ex-mobster turned movie producer who is fed up with the film industry and decides to take a stab at music. He teams up with Edie (Uma Thurman), a record executive and former "laundry girl" for Aerosmith, to launch the career of Linda Moon (Christina Milian). Unfortunately, Chilli still has his fair share of enemies: a wide array of goofballs played by Cedric the Entertainer, the Rock, Harvey Keitel, Vince Vaughn and Outkast's Andre 3000, among others.
Be Cool attempts parody but generally what results feels like an extra long, extra bad Saturday Night Live sketch, complete with numerous homophobic and racist jokes. It's hard to believe respectable actors like Thurman or Kietel would sink to these levels, and even John Travolta could do better. Some of the sequences are downright horrifying, specifically an attempt at recreating Pulp Fiction's Travolta/Thurman dance sequence at a Black Eyed Peas concert. Please, don't Be Cool. (MGM)
