Movies

Cool Runnings Cast REUNION Will Make You Cry!

BBG News

31 years after the passing of John Candy, who played a key role in the iconic 1993 sports movie “Cool Runnings,” the original cast members have come together again.

The principal actors from the movie gathered at a convention in Hartford, Connecticut during the 90s, exactly 32 years following the release of their Disney film.

At a reunion with some of the ’90s most notable celebrities, Rawle D. Lewis, Doug E. Doug, Leon Robinson, and Malik Yoba, famously known for their roles as the Jamaican bobsled team members, graciously struck poses together.

Not in attendance was leading man Candy who died of a heart attack on March 4 1994.

The movie “Cool Runnings” proved to be incredibly successful at the box office, raking in an impressive $154.9 million while only costing $17 million to produce.

1993 saw the debut of a film whose storyline bears only a vague resemblance to reality: The improbable journey of Jamaica, a nation as likely to cultivate ice as Wales is to experience a drought, qualifying for the bobsleigh competition at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

As an ardent admirer, I’ve got to say, though some scenes might not mirror real-life events (remember, it’s showbiz!), this series follows a fresh four-person squad battling all odds to qualify for the Games. And who could forget the brilliant performance by none other than Candy, embodying our beloved coach, Irv Blitzer, to perfection!

Upon their arrival at the Games, having little experience with ice, the team forms a unique bond through a series of mishaps. They struggle to mimic Switzerland’s elite team, resorting to an unconventional luck ritual involving an egg, and engaging in bar brawls with a disrespectful East German squad. This unfolds into a hilarious tale that endures as a cherished classic. However, I must warn you, the following contains spoilers:

(Spoiler Alert) The team’s underdog story takes an unexpected turn when they discover their ‘lucky’ egg is actually a goose, which eventually hatches and becomes their mascot. This adorable addition to the team boosts their morale and propels them towards a surprising victory over the once-unbeatable Swiss team. The film’s climax leaves viewers in stitches, making it an unforgettable classic.

Following a less-than-stellar debut performance at the event, they made significant improvements in their second run by abandoning the Swiss push start chant and adopting the more dynamic “feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool Runnings!” inspired by Jamaica. This change led to a competent and highly respected showing.

However, during the third and concluding run, they put up another remarkable show, but unfortunately, a mechanical issue with their sled led to a devastating crash at high speed. Despite this, they were hailed as heroes as they carried their sled across the finish line on their shoulders, bringing an end to their Olympic journey in a heroic defeat amidst thunderous cheers and applause.

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, make sure to add it to your list of priorities. Although many scenes aren’t historically accurate (remember, that’s showbiz), it tells the story of a new four-man team overcoming obstacles to compete in the Games, with Irv Blitzer, brilliantly portrayed by the late John Candy, serving as their coach.

Upon arriving at the Games, with minimal ice experience, the team develops camaraderie through a series of humorous mishaps. They struggle to imitate Switzerland’s elite techniques, resorting to a peculiar ritual involving a lucky egg, and engaging in bar brawls with an arrogant East German squad. This unfolds into a hilarious tale that becomes a cherished timeless comedy. However, for those who prefer not to know the ending, I’ll leave it at that – the rest is best discovered on screen.

Following a disappointing initial performance at the event, attempting to mimic Switzerland’s robotic countdown of ‘ein, zwei, drei’, they significantly improved with their subsequent run, abandoning the Swiss count for the lively and revered ‘Jamaican style’ and the more catchy “feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsled time! Cool Runnings!

However, during the third and concluding run, they delivered another remarkable performance, only for it to be marred by a mechanical issue with their sled, causing them to crash at high speed. Despite this, they were greeted with thunderous cheers and applause as they bravely hoisted their sled onto their shoulders and crossed the finish line, thus concluding their Olympic journey in a heroic defeat.

Although the incident in Calgary didn’t quite unfold as described (the accident was due to an error, and the applause was more reserved than overwhelming since their sled was assisted to the finish line), their actions in reality garnered them a tremendous amount of genuine respect.

Although the movie’s endearing group of characters, Derice Bannock, Sanka Coffie, Junior Bevil, and Yul Brenner are entirely fictional, the actual team comprises Dudley Stokes, his brother Chris, Devon Harris, and Michael White in real life.

Despite the formidable obstacles they faced, it’s remarkable that they managed to make it to Calgary at all.

The team’s training method was essentially simulating a push-off, by moving a makeshift sled along a hard surface, as a means of achieving quick initial velocity for their bobsled runs, which significantly impacts the overall performance.

Despite arriving in Calgary, they lacked a sled and were forced to depend on the kindness of other teams for even the most fundamental equipment.

Furthermore, their initial participation was limited to just the two-man event, partnered with Dudley Stokes and White. However, at a later stage, they decided to join the four-man event as well, teaming up with Harris and Chris Stokes.

Under quite unusual circumstances, Chris was virtually clueless about the bobслей (bobsleigh) competition and only had a scant three days to grasp the rules and techniques of the sport from his fresh teammates.

Beyond merely sprinting on ice initially, it also involves gripping tight as you slide into the sled and race through an intricate, steeply banked tunnel at velocities reaching 90 miles per hour.

Both speed and ability are essential, and an initial swift launch offers crucial early advantage on the level section of the track before gravity assumes control. Teams must maintain a streamlined formation to minimize air resistance, while they also possess a mechanism for reducing speed when necessary.

Navigating banked turns can be a delicate dance; lean too lightly or cautiously, and you won’t build enough momentum. Lean too steeply and you might lose control prematurely, potentially causing the sled to tilt and topple – similar to what happened with the Jamaican team in 1988.

The athlete who finishes first across all their total runs receives the gold medal, which should be clear by now.

Despite Jamaica’s four-person bobsled team failing to complete the track in 1988, Dudley Stokes and White managed to cross the finish line, placing 30th among the 41 competitors in the two-man event.

Jamaica secured qualification for their next three matches, each involving the Stokes siblings, with placements of 25th, 14th, and 21st respectively.

As a dedicated follower, I must admit that our funding began to dwindle after our four-member team missed qualification for the Salt Lake City Games back in 2002. However, it’s important to note that a two-person team still represented us at those Games, and again in 2014. The sport has gained traction among Jamaican women since their debut in PyeongChang, which I find particularly exciting.

The foundation of the team can be traced back to its four-man male crew, and they returned in 2022, specifically in Beijing.

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2025-03-29 07:04

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