Be Cool: A Sequel That Struggles to Find Its Groove
“Be Cool” throws at us a two-hour fictional tale of aspiring singer Christina Milian’s rise to fame. It’s only out of respect for the likes of Travolta, Thurman, DeVito, Keitel, and Woods that we refrain from calling this “detective” story – devoid of mystery, humor, or drive – a complete flop.
A decade prior, “Get Shorty” (1995), with a $30 million budget, grossed $72 million. “Be Cool” (2005), the sequel, cost $53 million but has only earned $38 million so far. However, it’s only been a month in American cinemas, so there’s still time. Yet, if it does turn a profit, it will likely be in America.
Humor That Falls Flat
The humor feels forced, like a bad stand-up routine. Each “joke” is presented with excessive fanfare, as if we’re supposed to be rolling in the aisles. The comedians then look around, expecting laughter, and when it doesn’t come, they promise more “funny” moments are on the way. We wait and wait, enduring rare and unamusing attractions, all centered around the public’s fascination with celebrity life.
Glimpses of “Coolness”
So, what kind of “coolness” can you expect in “Be Cool”?
- Danny DeVito’s height perfectly matches Anna Nicole Smith’s bust (they appear briefly at the beginning).
- Uma Thurman sunbathes topless in a bikini (a beautiful back, impressive foot size).
- Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson plays a flamboyant character (complete with a wig, sideburns, and an earring).
- Travolta is heavily dyed as a dark brunette (he looks like a computer-generated version of himself).
- Finally, Travolta and Thurman dance together (the moment everyone anticipates after all the advertising, but it’s brief and understated).
- Christina Milian’s character gets to perform a duet with Steven Tyler (the aspiring pop star sings at a real Aerosmith concert).
Only two things elicit a slight smile. Thurman, the widow of the murdered James Woods, sits in negotiations wearing a black t-shirt that simply reads: “Widow.” And Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson goes wild in the final scene, dancing shirtless as a backup dancer.
Lost in Translation?
To justify the rest, one can only assume that we’re missing something. There are occasional “international” gags – a “Scarface” poster in the mafia’s office, a gold chain on Vince Vaughn’s neck, a “Russian mafia” entirely composed of Ukrainians. But maybe each scene is filled with details that are hilarious to American audiences, but we simply don’t get them. Perhaps it’s our fault that we only see a group of stars struggling to deliver “sparkling improvisation.” However, the director, F. Gary Gray, should still be punished for the uninspired “love” between Travolta and Thurman, complete with kisses and a bed scene. They themselves seem bored kissing – “okay, let’s go make fun of The Rock.”
A Plot That’s Outdated
The “parody detective” plot, where gangster Chili Palmer ventures into the movie business, worked in the 20th century. Back then, the film industry could still handle a coherent plot, and inherent chaos wasn’t yet common knowledge. Today, Chili Palmer has simply switched to pop music, and the show business isn’t much different from the film industry. However, in the 21st century, no single plot can hold our attention. The constant barrage of news, tabloids, and internet gossip has made everyone a “plot consumer,” so a single story is only good for a 30-second CNN report.
“Be Cool” presents us with a single, fictional story of Christina Milian’s rise to fame. An ordinary story. All the text is strung on it, all the events, places of action, arrows, shootings, fights. Because of the stars and insert numbers, it also stalls at every turn. But what to stall?
With all due respect to Travolta, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Danny DeVito, James Woods, it turned out to be an empty number. It looks pathetic.