Cool runnings, man

In honour of the competition Thursday evening, I just HAD to find a copy of the movie “Cool Runnings” for slaDE and I to watch before his big debut! Gosh, how I love the Library … after several attempts of getting it before someone else managed to, I had my sticky little fingers on it. Yippee!

We both had seen it before, but this viewing, of course, had extra special meaning (and I was thinking that perhaps slaDE would pick up some tips on riding the sled from a beginner to winner! :).

Here’s the blurb from the back of the dvd:

You’ll love Cool Runnings — an outrageously funny comedy hit inspired by the true story of Jamaica’s first Olympic bobsled team. They were four unlikely athletes with one impossible dream. Now with the help of an ex-champion as their coach (John Candy), four Jamaicans leave their sunny tropical island home and enter the chilly Winter Olympics to compete for the gold in a sport they know nothing about – bobsled racing!

The irony behind the unfolding story about 4 improbable men, without any sponsor, who fly to Calgary, Alberta to participate in the XV Olympic Winter Games at -25 degrees Celsius, is quite remarkable; and the irony didn’t fall short in its similarities! At least the weather here in Calgary is warm and sunny.

PS If you get a chance to watch the film, everything about the track, it’s starting point, etc is real. It was like being at the track Tuesday night, all over again! However, the Calgary skyline is far less developed in 1993 (when the movie was released) than it is today.
PPS I love John Candy (a true blue Canadian Comic), and truly miss him and his marvelous talents.