This heart warming Disney production, released in 1993 is based on the true story of the 1988 Olympic Jamaican bobsled team.
When Derice Bannock (Leon) fails to qualify for the Olympics 100 yard sprint due to an injury, he calls upon the services of Irwin Flitzer (John Candy), a retired and disgraced former Olympic bobsled athlete, disgraced by putting weights in his bobsled at a former Olympic games.
Together and with the help of Sanka (Doug E. Doug), Junior (Rawle D. Lewis) and Yul (Malik Yoba), they decide to set up a Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. Naturally this causes hilarity on the island as the boys try to train in the scorching winter heat of Jamaica.
However team spirit and plenty of self-confidence leads to a few surprises at the Winter Games as they defy all odds and get into the Olympics.
Although only loosely based on the true story, and despite the normal level of Disney sugar coating present, this is still a great family movie with some genuinely laugh out loud moments for adults as well as kids. It also offers us a chance to see one of the last great performances from comedy legend John Candy who died a year after this movie's release.
Did you know? Contrary to the film's story, the Jamaican team was met with open arms by the international bobsledding teams at Calgary in 1988. One of the other teams even lent the Jamaican team their reserve sled so they could qualify.
(3 Star)
Add a comment