Cool Runnings

Cool Runnings is a feel-extremely-good 1993 movie featuring one of my favorite people who ever lived on this planet and who I talk about constantly, John Candy.

I don’t actually remember watching this movie as a kid, which is probably inaccurate, considering my mom has made me watch every possible existing movie ever released when I was a kid. This is probably one of the ones we watched only once.

This is the story of the first ever Jamaican bobsled team to participate in the Winter Olympics in Canada in 1988. The story is real, though I believe the events of the movie are completely made up. Except for the part where actual footage of the team during the competition was used. That part of the story is pretty accurate!

I was watching the Olympics, I think 2 days ago, and I saw this competition live as they were announcing the Jamaican team… without laughing. It was pretty cool!

The Secret of my success

“The secret of my success” is a 1987 movie I could easily watch on repeat. I don’t know Michael J. Fox personally (well, it kinda goes without saying, but MAYBE I had to specify this…) but, in my head, the type of character he plays in this movie is extremely close to what he is like in real life, you know? Wicket smart, confident and basically just plain cool. So, so many things I will never be.

The Secret of My Success – 1987

Oh well, interestingly enough – to me – a couple of my favorite actors Topher Grace and Justin Long actually have mentioned in interviews how much their style is based on Michael J. Fox. After learning that, I started seeing it everywhere, but specially on this movie, during the first scenes I get serious Topher Grace vibes, which is completely irrelevant, but I find it really cool to observe.

Would this movie suffer serious trimming, had it been released these days? Well, probably. But I love this mood!

Google Sinopsis:

Recent college graduate Brantley Foster (Michael J. Fox) travels from his home in Kansas to New York City to pursue a new finance job. However, when Brantley arrives, he learns that his position has been eliminated, and he’s forced to take a job working for his inept Uncle Howard (Richard Jordan), who became a company president through marriage. Brantley starts as a mere mailroom worker, but quickly climbs the corporate ladder when he begins posing as an executive.

Where to watch?

Amazon Prime

Ellen

I have one faded, vague memory of watching “Ellen” in 1994.

I noticed the show on Disney+ and instantly wanted to watch it again. As an adult, and knowing Ellen’s story, it is seriously PAINFUL to watch her in the sitcom so completely out of her element, specially during the first season.

Still, I am completely drawn to it because it portraits a reality I used to know.

Here’s a list of things I love and that this show has:

♡ People reading printed newspaper.

♡ People not holding their phones.

♡ Couches with flower patterns.

♡ Land Phones

♡ Houses not decorated in minimalistic style or shades of gray.

So, I concentrate on that list and on the fact that, by season 4, Ellen – the character- will come out of the closet and Ellen – the person – turned out just fine in real life. And I am able to enjoy this 1994 sitcom again.

Where to watch? Disney+

Take care!

John Candy

On March 4, 1994 we lost John Candy. It was way too soon and I am still not completely over it. Still, I have been able to watch his movies, repeatedly, because he is one of my main sources of comfort.

John Candy and Karen Austin in “Summer Rental” – 1985 movie

When I was young, my mom would rent “The Great Outdoors” VHS repeatedly. So much so that after a 20-something years gap, I still remembered the lines.

John Candy in “The Great Outdoors” – 1988 movie.

I could never explain this feeling and I thought I was kind of special, but it turns out, it’s a pretty general mood:

“[Watching Nostalgic Stuff] gives you energy to cope with what is going on now and move forward.” according to the experts from this article.

Well, I guess that explains a lot.

While searching for my long lost mental health in the middle of this endless pandemic, here are the John Candy movies I watched this week:

Yes, I actually do feel a little better. So, it works!

Fun fac: Macaulay Culkin, was able to interview Candy’s daughter on his podcast here. And that’s how I know Candy was the best.

Where to watch? AmazonPrime.

Talk to you tomorrow,