Caution: Movie spoilers ahead

Gary Gray. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of this name? (Other than the fact that it’s a rather cool name, in my opinion, and that there are 10 times more chances that his full name would be misspelled.) When I hear the name, I think, "This is the guy who should direct every second movie, at the least". (For all those of you who are going Aah! He’s a movie director, you’re welcome.) Maybe the titles “The Negotiator” and “The Italian Job” ring a bell. (If not, go kill yourself!) Well, I just finished watching his latest movie about 2 days ago and am still on a high, which is what this post is a result of. Black guys should definitely direct more often!

I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie that was just purely entertaining. Nowadays movies force you to put every (working) grey cell into use to help you figure out the deep meaning that is obviously hidden ‘deeply’ somewhere. Or else you have to watch a movie holding your breath for you dare not gasp because if you miss one syllable, you will lose track of the plot you were so religiously following. But today I watched a movie that made me go from aww to oh my god! to ooh la la; a movie that has me smiling days after I’ve finished watching it. Be cool is that movie – the reason why the movie industry is called “The Entertainment Business” and the reason why their tagline is “It’s show time!”.

I don’t know where to start about this movie. But most importantly, there is no plot whatsoever. And with due respect to the writer, that is the best part of the movie. The beauty of the movie is that each character is a ‘character’ – each of which has been played by a star. Now who doesn’t love to simply watch a star-studded cast. Anyone who loved “Ocean’s Twelve” knows what I mean. This is by no means like “Get Shorty”. That movie was a classic for its own reasons. But this movie is amazing for the fact that in spite of so many actors, each character stands out like a diamond in the rough. Which only makes all of them diamonds!

John Travolta – No amount of words can do full justice to him. In fact, I can’t think of a more apt person to “be cool”. And to watch him dance again was simply delightful. How can someone be this charismatic at 50 years of age is beyond my understanding. But I’m not complaining. I would pay to watch Travolta just sit and breathe.

Uma Thurman – It was great to be able to relive the Thurman-Travolta chemistry to say the least. I don’t think she’s the prettiest face around but I’d give anything to look half as good as her in a bikini.

Vince Vaughn – I just watched “Dodgeball” a few days ago and thought he was adorable. But when I watched him play ‘the white guy who thinks he’s black’, I fell in love with him. He is absolutely hilarious. Twinkle twinkle baby. He truly entertains.

Cedric the entertainer – Nothing more needs to be said. His name says it all. You can’t love ‘the bad guy’ of a movie any more than this.

Christina Milian – I think her role in the movie must be a reflection of her life right now. She plays a singer who becomes famous. And she is in reality too. Two of her singles are showcased in the movie, which is going to do wonders for her career. She has a beautiful voice.

Andre 3000 – Known more famously for being one half of the group “Outkast”, Andre is perfect for the role of the clumsy gangster who keeps shooting at the wrong time.

And last but not the least, The Rock – If there’s one thing you know The Rock is not, is that he’s not gay. And to see him play a gay bodyguard who can’t even throw a punch right is something you would never buy! But he makes it so believable that you wonder if this is the same guy who used to flex his muscles and do the Do-you-smell-what-the-Rock-is-cooking routine. His comic timing is perfect and his one-brow raised trademark just ROCKS! And who knew that The Rock of all people could sing an entire song and dance to it??? Mind you, it’s the funniest video in the history of mankind. “You ain’t woman enough to take my man.” Haha! My stomach still aches from all that laughing. Gosh. He is SO sexy. And as a gay man, he was all the more desirable. (You want what you can’t have, right?)

If none of the characters amuse you, the dialogues should. “What do you tell a man who has got two black eyes? Nothing. He’s already been told twice.” Or when someone asks Travolta, “Who are all these people trying to kill you?” and he replies, “I don’t know. I’m in the music business now. It could be anybody.” Or when he replies to Danny De Vito asking him why he doesn’t own a car with speed, “If you’re important, people will wait.” In fact, the movie starts with Travolta saying “I hate sequels.” My favourite dialogue however is when Travolta is complaining about how if the f word is used more than once in a movie, then it is rated R. And he follows that up by saying “Well, fuck that.” And you never hear the f word again for the rest of the movie. (You’ll only get the joke if you'd observed that the movie is rated PG-13.)

I don’t do movie reviews too often. But it’s been a long time since a movie made me feel this good and relaxed. So just thought I’d spread the joy. And well, I also know that everybody likes to “Be Cool… Very Cool.”