Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
Disenchanted with the movie industry, Chili Palmer tries the music industry, meeting and romancing a widow of a music executive along the way.
Be Cool is a sequel to Get Shorty that largely coasts on the charm of its predecessor without recapturing its wit or sharpness. The plot is overly episodic and meandering, recycling the fish-out-of-water crime-comedy formula without much invention. The acting is a mixed bag — Travolta is reliably charismatic and there are fun supporting turns from The Rock and Vince Vaughn, but the ensemble feels underutilized by a weak script. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable for its genre. As a sequel and industry satire, it covers ground Get Shorty already tread, making it feel derivative rather than distinctive. The ending wraps up too neatly and without much payoff, reflecting the film's broader lack of dramatic stakes.