Be Cool

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Be Cool

PG-13

Released Mar 4, 2005

1h 59m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

30%

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168 Reviews

42%

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100,000+ Ratings

Having made the transition from gangster to movie producer, Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is ready for the next big move. Setting his sights on the music industry, Palmer enters a precarious business that has more than just temperamental musicians: Russian mobsters, rival producers and hit men are out to bring him down. From witnessing the murder of his friend (James Woods) to romancing a music executive's widow (Uma Thurman), it seems as though it might all fall apart, but Palmer has his ways.

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Critics Consensus

Be Cool is tepid, square, and lukewarm; as a parody of the music business, it has two left feet.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Watered-down sequel isn't meant for kids.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 30, 2010

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

I was really glad when it was over.

Apr 6, 2010

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

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Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Boasting a smorgasbord of Hollywood talent, Be Cool is a rather tepid comedy with just enough charm to be passable.

Nov 18, 2019

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James Plath

Movie Metropolis

Be Cool isn't the biting satire that Get Shorty was. It's lighter, hipper, and, yes, more fun.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 11, 2012

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Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

Be Cool sounds like it should be good, or at least entertaining, but it's neither. It does have some genuinely fun moments, but lacks a strong narrative to hang them off of. The result is empty, full of contrivances, and ultimately unsatisfying.

Rated: 5/10

Jan 7, 2011

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Kevan G

I loved it when I was 12. The Rocks best movie yet......

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/11/24

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alan g

Faux gangstas, John Travolta trying to be cool. Cedric the non entertainer trying to be a music mogul. Nothing works. Stick to the first film, "Get Shorty". Or read the books. Uma not as good looking or talented as Rene.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/21/24

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Kevin M

Read Elmore Leonard's book. This is a poor adaptation

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/19/24

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Bojank R

Classic cast, problematic at times, but Travolta is playing a hip-hop connoisseur named ‘Chili'. Phile

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/23

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Tony S

Great cast, but this sequel to Get Shorty is not Godfather II or Rocky II.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

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Brent C

The plot of this movie is secondary to watching and enjoying it. If you've had a wild night out, this movie is an ideal choice to watch the following day while all floppy and recovering. There is plenty of gratuitous violence, etc. but it's really a kind of sweet, good-hearted film at its core. It also reunites John Travolta and Uma Thurman on the dance floor, to the music of Sergio Mendes and the Black Eyed Peas. It's as 2005 as it gets and in this case, that is a good thing. Practically every scene features a prominent film star or musician, akin to the original Casino Royale - but actually fun and entertaining to watch throughout.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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F. Gary Gray

Director

John Travolta

Chili Palmer

Uma Thurman

Edie Athens

Vince Vaughn

Raji

Cedric the Entertainer

Sinclair "Sin" Russell

André Benjamin

Dabu

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Be Cool: Official Clip - Plus the Vig

3:26

Be Cool: Official Clip - The Raised Eyebrow Look

3:19

Be Cool: Official Clip - Twinkle, Twinkle, Baby

1:35

Be Cool: Official Clip - Raji At Bat

2:13

Be Cool: Official Clip - Pawnshop Punch-Out

1:47

Be Cool: Official Clip - Raji on Fire

1:41

Be Cool: Official Clip - Racial Epithets

2:20

Be Cool: Official Clip - That's Not Gangsta

2:13

Be Cool: Official Clip - Bring It On Monologue

3:17

Be Cool: Official Clip - Sin's Spatula

1:33

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Synopsis

Having made the transition from gangster to movie producer, Chili Palmer (John Travolta) is ready for the next big move. Setting his sights on the music industry, Palmer enters a precarious business that has more than just temperamental musicians: Russian mobsters, rival producers and hit men are out to bring him down. From witnessing the murder of his friend (James Woods) to romancing a music executive's widow (Uma Thurman), it seems as though it might all fall apart, but Palmer has his ways.

Director: F. Gary Gray
Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, David Nicksay
Screenwriter: Peter Steinfeld, Elmore Leonard
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Double Feature Films, Jersey Films
Rating: PG-13 (Sensuality|Language|Sexual References|Violence)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 2005, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $55.8M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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