COOL RUNNINGS

US, 1993, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Candy, Leon.
Directed by John Turteltaub.

Cool Runnings is a pleasant sports film, set in Jamaica and the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, 1988. It focuses on the Jamaican team for bobsledding - an unlikely combination.

The film is based on a true story, benefits by the location photography and the enthusiastic performances of the cast. It was one of the last of John Candy's films. The film focuses, as expected, on the personalities of the team, their difficulties in getting sponsorship and support, the story of the coach (and his winning gold medals but his expulsion for cheating), the training, the poor performance - and the final triumph (not exactly winning the competition, but carrying the bobsled with pride).

The film blends action and humour - in the Rocky tradition. The film was directed by John ........ director of Three Ninjas.

1.Entertaining sports film? The Olympic Games? The Winter Games? Jamaica and its involvement?

2.The Jamaican settings, the tropics? The contrast with Calgary and winter? The sports events, stunt work? The musical score, the range of popular songs?

3.The title, the themes?

4.The pushcart derby in Jamaica? The personalities of those involved? Skills, people's support? Popular sport? The athletics, the running - and the fall, the people tripping? The prospect of not getting to the Olympics?

5.The bobsled events, the ambitions of the Jamaican young men? Arguing with the authorities? Going to see the coach? Discussions? His agreeing? The need for financial support? The young man selling his car - and his clash with his father?

6.The members of the team and their portraits? The bald, large athlete and his sense of menace? The hero - and his falling in the trials, his keeping the team together? The young man selling his car, the confrontations with his father, his self-assertion? The pushcart champion and his involvement? Their working together, training, the pressure of the other teams and the champions? The trial and their failure, the commentaries? Their wanting to win, the capsize - the decision to walk to the finishing line, carrying the sled, the public response, their sense of achievement?

7.John Candy as the coach, his background, friendship with the previous generation of bobsledders? His cheating - and his telling the story, the drive to win, personal integrity? Urging them to honesty?

8.The training at home, going to Calgary, being excluded, reinstated, the first lap trial and the television commentators, sense of failure?

9.The Jamaican way, heroes? The friends and relations at home, their support, watching the television, rejoicing? The young man reconciled with his father?

10.The dramatic impact of the walk to the finish?

11.The film in the tradition of sports features? The Rocky tradition - the underdogs and their training, working hard, achievement?