I absolutely loved Get Shorty, a John Travolta, Gene Hackman, Rene Russo movie based on a book by Elmore Leonard. I had never read the book, but saw the movie, loved it, then later went on to read the book.

Now there’s a movie called Be Cool, a sequel to Get Shorty, based on the book sequel, also by Elmore Leonard. Well, here’s the deal. A couple of hours before seeing this movie, I bought the book. I’ll start reading it next (I’m only about half way through with my current book)…but I gotta tell you, I hope the book’s better than the movie.

Be Cool once again has John Travolta playing the ultra cool Chili Palmer, who became a movie producer in Get Shorty, but is now headed into the music business. And that’s my main problem with the sequel. Stuff happens involving the music business which is so ridiculously farfetched and unbelievable, that it’s almost hard to watch. I was also put off by there being no mention of Rene Russo’s character in the sequel, but hey, maybe that’s just the hopeless romantic in me talking. This is not to say I didn’t like Be Cool to an extent. I did. But it’s definitely a disappointment.

Stealing this movie away from a not nearly as cool as he once was Travolta was a luminous Uma Thurman, a scarily hot Christina Milian , a really annoying but funnily so Vince Vaughn playing the blackest white man ever, Cedric The Entertainer as a highly educated thug cum record producer, and especially a subtly flamboyantly gay bodyguard played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He does a really great job as Elliot, Vince Vaughn’s driver and bodyguard. He should definitely do more smaller, ensemble roles like this before tackling a leading role again.
And did I mention that Christina Milian is scarily hot?
No, seriously, she is.

This movie was adapted by Peter Steinfeld, and like I said, a lot happens I’m just not happy with. It’ll be funny if it turns out when I read the book and discover that Steinfeld did a faithful adaptation. But I can’t believe that'll the case.
Be Cool is directed by F. Gary Gray, who I know I should know from plenty of stuff, but I can’t think of anything he’s done. But he did a good job.
The story’s what doesn’t work here for me.