Cool Runnings

As the sun rises over the lush Jamaican landscape, we find ourselves in the midst of a spirited training session with Derice Bannock (Leon), a determined young athlete hell-bent on following in the footsteps of his legendary father. With the 1988 Olympic Games just around the corner, Derice is working tirelessly to perfect his craft and secure that elusive gold medal.

Before the grueling trial run, Derice pays a visit to his old friend Sanka Coffee (Doug E. Doug), who's busy preparing for the annual pushcart race. As Sanka crosses the finish line in victory, he can't resist one final flourish, careening wildly out of control and sending the crowd into stitches.

Later that day, Sanka joins Derice's family at the track, where our protagonist is gearing up to face off against his competitors in the Olympic trials. Among the formidable foes he encounters is Junior Bevil (Rawle D. Lewis), a pint-sized powerhouse with a penchant for causing chaos on the track. As the race heats up, Junior's antics prove to be the decisive factor, sending Derice tumbling to the ground and snuffing out his hopes of Olympic glory.

Crushed and demoralized, Derice confronts Coolidge (Winston Stona), the imposing figure in charge of Jamaican athletics. With tears in his eyes, he begs for a second chance to prove himself on the track, but Coolidge's response is a resounding "no." It's then that Derice's gaze falls upon a photograph on Coolidge's wall, one that holds a secret about his father's past and sparks an unexpected opportunity.

The image shows his father, Ben, alongside Irving Blitzer (John Candy), an American expatriate who had once tried to persuade him to trade in his running shoes for the thrill of bobsledding. Derice seizes upon this new avenue of possibility and sets out to find Irv, determined to persuade him to take on a novice like himself.

Sanka learns of Derice's plan and is initially thrilled by the prospect of joining forces with his buddy. However, when he discovers that bobsledding is a winter sport, his enthusiasm quickly gives way to skepticism. Undeterred, Sanka eventually warms up to the idea, and together they set out to track down Irv.

Their search leads them to a seedy pool hall where Blitzer, a disgraced ex-athlete with a reputation for cheating, has taken refuge as a bookie. Initially resistant to their pleas, he's ultimately swayed by Derice's unwavering dedication and the prospect of reviving a friendship with his old colleague. With Irv on board, the unlikely trio sets out to defy the odds and carve out their own niche in the world of bobsledding.

The day following their initial foray into bobsledding, Sanka's leader, Blitzer, sets out to augment his team with fresh faces. The first new recruit is Yul Brenner (Malik Yoba), a bald and burly individual Sanka recognizes from the Olympic running trials, who sees this venture as a means to an end - namely, participation in the Olympics. Meanwhile, another chance arrival joins their ranks: Junior, the hapless track runner, whose clumsy antics had previously caused chaos on the track. Not surprisingly, Yul's initial demeanor towards Junior is less than cordial, given that he was one of the victims of Junior's earlier mishap; however, Blitzer's emphasis on having a full team ultimately tempers Yul's hostility.

Blitzer wastes no time in training his quartet, constructing a makeshift bobsled and tasking them with executing a push-start down a steep slope. His ultimatum is clear: if they can't achieve a push-start within an impressive 6 seconds, their chances of competing are slim to none. Yul takes up the second middle position, while Junior assumes the first spot; Sanka, on the other hand, resists Blitzer's initial choice for brakes, citing the driver's far more extensive responsibilities in bobsledding and emphasizing that a driver can't simply "go out and have fun" with their teammates. Ultimately, Sanka relents, allowing Derice to take the reins.

After the first day of training, Junior returns home, eager to share his newfound passion with his father. However, fate intervenes in the form of Mr. Bevil (Charles Hyatt), who reveals that he has secured a lucrative job opportunity for Junior at a brokerage house in Miami - one that Junior is expected to accept by the end of the month. Faced with this unexpected ultimatum, Junior remains silent, his enthusiasm for bobsledding temporarily stymied.

The early days of training are marked by struggles and setbacks as the group repeatedly stumbles and falls, failing even to successfully board their makeshift sled. However, after several attempts, they finally manage to climb aboard together and hurtle down the mountain with reckless abandon - albeit ultimately crashing into a police car. Blitzer's reaction is one of unbridled excitement: they've achieved a push-start in an impressive 5.9 seconds! His subsequent instruction for them to retrieve their sled and repeat the process elicits collective groaning from the team.

As the Jamaican bobsled team's fortunes began to flourish under Derice's unyielding leadership, he embarked on a quest to secure the necessary funding to compete at the highest level - the Olympic Games. The initial rejection by Coolidge only strengthened Derice's resolve, and he vowed to explore alternative means of securing the required resources. Junior's selfless decision to sell his prized possession, his car, in order to bolster the team's chances, served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who had dedicated themselves to this improbable pursuit.

Upon arriving at the Olympic Games in Calgary, the Jamaicans were struck by the biting cold and hastily acquired heavy-duty coats to shield themselves from the elements. As they navigated the unfamiliar terrain, Blitzer expertly registered the team for competition, rekindling old acquaintances and securing a crucial donation - an old backup sled from the US bobsled team - courtesy of his friend Roger (Paul Coeur).

The team's initial attempts at mastering the icy surface were marked by awkwardness and ineptitude, with their practice sessions at a local hockey rink yielding more frustration than progress. However, Derice's unwavering dedication and Blitzer's unorthodox coaching methods eventually began to bear fruit as the Jamaicans slowly but surely grasped the fundamentals of bobsledding.

As night fell on their first day at the Olympic track, Derice was mesmerized by the Swiss team's precision and efficiency during a practice session. Meanwhile, Blitzer proudly unveiled the newly acquired sled to his teammates, its rusted exterior belied by its functional capabilities.

The Jamaicans' inaugural run at the Olympic track got off to a promising start, only for their hopes to be brutally dashed as the sled careened out of control before reaching the finish line. A second attempt fared no better, with the team chasing after their wayward sled in disarray. The ensuing publicity stunt, captured by a keen-eyed photographer, left Mr. Bevil and Coolidge seething at the prospect of their protégés being lampooned in the press.

As Derice tinkers with their sled, he crosses paths with one of Irv's old colleagues, who shares a scandalous secret about the 1972 competition. It seems that Irv had resorted to underhanded tactics, hiding weights at the bottom of his sled to gain an unfair speed advantage. The consequences were severe: Irv was ousted from the event and his medals revoked.

The following evening, Sanka attempts to blend in by masquerading as a maid, but Yul remains unimpressed, dismissing him as utterly absurd. Meanwhile, Junior receives a telegrams from his father, alerting him to the fact that their activities have not gone unnoticed. Mr. Bevil is now demanding his son's immediate return home.

As they socialize at a local bar, Yul takes Junior under his wing, urging him to stand up for himself against the German team members who had previously mocked them. Junior seizes the opportunity, confronting his tormentors and sparking a raucous brawl that involves Yul, Sanka, Junior, and their German adversaries.

The next morning at the Relax Inn Motel, Derice chastises his teammates for their reckless behavior, lamenting that they'll never achieve success through such unorthodox methods. The Swiss team, he insists, would never stoop to such antics because they're singularly focused on their performance. Yul, Sanka, and Junior, however, remain nonplussed by Derice's rebuke, continuing to snicker at his words.

Sanka takes things a step further, cracking a lewd joke about the Swiss team and what would happen if they tried to push a comely woman off the ice. It's only a matter of minutes before Irv bursts into the room, reprimanding the trio for their lack of discipline. He reminds them that everyone in the luge community despises them, and it's high time they got their act together.

With a newfound sense of purpose, the Jamaicans refocus their training efforts under Irv's guidance. They quickly regain their competitive edge, thanks to Irv's expertise.

Finally, the day of their qualifying run arrives. Irv presents the team with specially designed competition suits as a token of appreciation for their improved behavior. He then meets with the three judges, who emphasize the importance of crossing the finish line in under one minute to remain eligible. The team takes their place, and despite some minor hiccups, they successfully complete the course.

As the tension builds, the time is revealed: 59.46! Irv and his teammates are overjoyed.

To celebrate, the guys decorate their sled with Jamaica's colors, and Derice decides to christen it "Cool Runnings." Little do they know, however, that disaster looms on the horizon. A letter from the judges arrives, informing them that the Jamaican team has been disqualified due to Irv's prior infractions.

As Irv bursts into the high-stakes office, his indignation palpable, he lays down a challenge: expose the true motives behind the sudden shift in international racing regulations. It seems that the Olympic committee has implemented a new rule, requiring teams to participate in an international race to qualify, rather than relying on a trial run. Irv's gut tells him that this is more than just a bureaucratic tweak - he senses a personal vendetta at play. His suspicions are confirmed when he confronts his former coach, Kurt Hemphill (from the '72 Games and currently a key judge in the '88 Games), who he accuses of exacting revenge for Irv's past transgressions.

It all started 16 years ago, when Irv's desperation to win led him down a slippery slope. He chose to bend the rules, sacrificing his integrity and reputation in the process. The consequences were severe: his gold medals were revoked, and he brought shame upon himself, his coach, teammates, friends, and family. Now, as he stands before Hemphill, Irv takes ownership of his mistake and demands accountability. Why should the Jamaican bobsledding team suffer because of his past misdeeds? That night, at their hotel, a phone call brings unexpected news: the committee has reversed its decision, and the Jamaicans are back in the running.

As the island of Jamaica erupts in patriotic fervor, with flags waving and national pride on full display, Irv takes it upon himself to rally his team. However, his motivational speech is interrupted by a surprise visit from Mr. Bevil, who has come to claim his son, Junior. The patriarch's intentions are pure - he claims to be looking out for Junior's best interests - but the young athlete is having none of it. Drawing inspiration from Yul's wisdom, Junior stands tall and asserts his independence, telling his father that he's an Olympic competitor now, not a pawn in his father's game. With that, Bevil departs, leaving Junior to forge his own path.

As the Jamaican team prepares to take on the bobsled competition for the first time, Derice attempts to rally his teammates by mimicking the Swiss athletes' techniques. However, the team's initial run is more akin to a clumsy stumble down the track, with them bouncing off the edges and ultimately posting an unimpressive time of 58.04 seconds - placing them at the bottom of the pack.

Derice's antics quickly wear thin on his teammates, particularly Sanka, who takes issue with their leader's decision to emulate another team's style rather than developing their own unique approach. Sanka gently but firmly reminds Derice that they are Jamaicans, and that their heritage is what sets them apart - not some borrowed moves from the Swiss. After a moment of reflection, Derice comes around to his friend's way of thinking, recognizing that trying to be someone else can only lead to mediocrity.

The following day, the Jamaican team shows significant improvement in the sledding event, thanks in large part to their newfound focus and unity. They execute a flawless push-start, gaining valuable time and momentum as they hurtle down the track. In a stunning turn of events, their finishing time of 56.53 seconds propels them into eighth place - firmly establishing them as contenders for the medal.

That night, Derice seeks out Irv's counsel on why he cheated in the past. Irv shares his own struggles with obsession and the devastating consequences that can result from prioritizing winning above all else. He warns Derice not to make the same mistakes and instead encourages him to focus on tomorrow - and the lessons it will bring.

As the final day of competition dawns, the crowd is abuzz with anticipation for the Jamaicans' performance. Their formation is stronger than ever before, but a series of unfortunate events unfolds as their ancient sled begins to malfunction. A catastrophic bounce sends them careening out of control, eventually culminating in a chaotic and terrifying tumble.

As the dust settles, Derice slowly regains consciousness, only to find himself mere feet from the finish line. Miraculously, the paramedics rush down to tend to the Jamaicans as they struggle to their feet. Undeterred by their ordeal, the team hoists their battered sled onto their shoulders and begins the long walk back to the finish line - determined to complete the race despite all odds.

As the Jamaicans bring their spirited performance to a close, the audience is electrified by their energy and enthusiasm. The crowd's thunderous applause serves as a testament to the team's unwavering dedication and unbridled passion. Even Mr. Bevil (wearing a vibrant souvenir shirt that proudly proclaims his newfound appreciation for Jamaican culture), whose initial skepticism has given way to genuine admiration, joins in the celebration. Despite the fact that their chances of taking home the top prize have vanished, Jamaica's quartet of athletes leaves the competition with their heads held high and their hearts full of pride. This triumphant finish marks a turning point for Derice (and his teammates Sanka, Junior, and Yul), as they return to Jamaica hailed as heroes - a feat that would ultimately serve as a springboard for their future success, as they return to the Olympic Games four years later as equals in every sense of the word.