'Shorty' sequel anything but 'Cool'

Be Cool" is the latest and, dare I say, worst adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel to date (narrowly edging out that recent travesty "The Big Bounce"). It is the sequel to "Get Shorty." Actually, the plot, dialogue, characters and jokes are so similar to the original, that it might be more accurate to call it a remake.\nIn "Get Shorty," Chili Palmer (John Travolta) decides that he wants to get out of the loan shark business and into the movie business. Along the way his progress is impeded by three groups of criminals. Aided by his new-found love interest, a veteran in the movie industry, he overcomes all obstacles by playing everyone against each other. \nFor the plot to "Be Cool," replace "movie" with "music" and "loan shark" with "lone shark turned movie producer." Then replace subtle intelligent humor with bland predictable jokes.\nOne of the more irritating parts of the movie is its attempts at satire. The beginning of the movie is spent making fun of PG-13 movies and sequels (Oh how clever, "Be Cool" IS a PG-13 sequel). These jokes are so hackneyed I half expected a rim shot to signify the punch line. But by far the most depressing example of the failed satire in "Be Cool" is the dance sequence featuring Palmer and his love interest, Edie Athens (Uma Thurman). This marks the first time Travolta and Thurman have worked together since "Pulp Fiction." Director F. Gary Gray decided to pay homage to the twist contest from that film by staging his own, far more tedious, dance scene. I assume this was Gray's attempt at post-modernism, but in reality it is just bile-inducing. \nThere are some redeeming qualities to this movie. Vince Vaughn affords some funny lines as Raji, the poseur record executive. The Rock puts forth a good effort as Raji's gay body guard, Elliot. And Outkast's André 3000 is hilarious in his first major role, playing gangsta rapper Dabu. \nHowever, most of the performances are OK at best. Thurman, Travolta, Harvey Keitel and the ironically named Cedric the Entertainer all courageously wield the power of mediocrity with their innocuous performances. Then there is the virtually talentless Cristina Milian. Every minute Milian was on screen is a minute of my life that I want back. Her role as Linda Moon required her to both sing and act. I would equate her performance to Mariah Carrey in "Glitter," except Mariah Carrey can at least sing.\nThe DVD itself is loaded with special features such as deleted scenes, cast profiles and a behind-the-scenes documentary. If for some baffling reason you actually enjoyed this movie, then the DVD is worth buying. If, however, you have never seen "Be Cool" then don't bother. Instead rent "Get Shorty" or "Jackie Brown" and see what happens when a talented director adapts an Elmore Leonard novel.