Customer Ratings & Reviews

In 1990, I was a sixth-grader in a small town and for a brief moment in time, I was a huge Vanilla Ice fan. I owned his debut and his subsequent live album on cassette, I bought and read his (fabricated) biography, I emulated his fashion sense as much as I could, and I even joined his fan club. Yikes, I know. By the time Ice (aka Rob Van Winkle) landed his first starring role in a film with David Kellogg’s COOL AS ICE in October of ’91, I had moved on. It would seem that most of the world had, too, as the film was a commercial bomb and critically maligned. I never bothered to check it out but it has quietly grown into a bit of a cult film over the decades. After seeing the music video for John Maus’ “Bennington” a while back, which repurposes footage from the film, I decided I should give it a shot. Ice plays rapper and crotch rocket enthusiast Johnny Van Owen. After a gig, he and his friends (Deezer D, Kevin Hicks, and Allison Dean, none of whom get much to do outside of reaction shots and dance sequences) head off on their motorcycles to who knows where. After one of their bikes breaks down in a small town, they are generously taken in by a couple of arty eccentric mechanics, Roscoe (Sydney Lassick, a long way from ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST) and Mae (Columbus, Ohio native Dody Goodman). While waiting for the quirky pair to finish repairing his friend’s bike, Johnny becomes smitten with good girl high school senior and accomplished equestrian Kathy (a role meant for a young Gwyneth Paltrow that fell to HOME ALONE vet Kristin Minter when Paltrow’s father forbade her from taking the role). Unenthused with this development is Kathy’s jerky on-again-off-again beau, Nick (John Haymes Newton). Meanwhile, Kathy’s father Gordon (fan favorite Michael Gross) makes an ill-advised television appearance, compromising his status in the witness protection program. Johnny soon has to deal with Nick, Gordon’s disapproval, and the crooked cops looking for revenge against Gordon, all while romancing (underaged!) Kathy and introducing rural rubes to hip hop. Oscar nominee Candy Clark (for AMERICAN GRAFFITI, obviously not for this) plays Kathy’s mom and there are cameos by noted models Naomi Campbell and Bobbie Brown. I was surprised by the pedigree of the cast. So yeah, performances are actually solid for this type of flick. I wouldn’t say that Ice is a talented actor, but he does well enough. He doesn’t have broad range but he’s not wooden, either. That being said, his ostentatious outfits and ridiculous hair make him look clownish, especially when placed against the much more demure style of Minter. Matters aren’t helped by David Stenn’s script. Johnny’s dialog is loaded with forced slang that blows past awful into extremely cringeworthy territory. The love story is completely hilarious, as I would think any sane woman would be put off by Johnny’s juvenile and borderline abusive antics that color their initial encounters. More unintentional comedy arrives whenever Johnny is required to prove he’s a tough guy, easily dispatching dudebro toughs and corrupt cops. There’s some style here, though. The set for Roscoe and Mae’s residence is bizarrely cool. It kind of looks like a poor man’s version of Pee-wee’s Playhouse. There are musical sequences that use “live” performances and montages that resemble music videos that give the film some flavor. There’s a nicely done comedic interlude using sped up shots and there are some actually pretty neat scenes and stunts with the motorcycles. It’s a good-looking picture, which should come as no surprise since famed cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (SCHINDLER’S LIST, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) shot it. The soundtrack and score of course feature tons of hip hop, with Ice contributing four original songs for the effort. Dancing is impressive and fun to watch. David Kellogg’s COOL AS ICE has plenty of unintentional humor, but there are some legitimately admirable aspects as well. I have to admit, that having lived through that era, it delivered some warm and comforting nostalgia, too. Yes, Vanilla Ice comes off as a clown but he looked like he was having fun and the rest of the cast is game, as well. I have to say, I really enjoyed this. Recommended for fans of early ‘90s hip hop, terrible dialog, and pouty bad boys.

The movie I could watch over again they have the movie until this day it sells for 19.99 I understand why

Good movie from the 90's if you were a fan of this rap singer.

Classic cheese! If you are from this generation. Have some drinks, feel good, kick back and enjoy. Even though it bombed in its day. It’s better than the crap out there now!

THIS MOVIE IS AN ALL TIME FAV OF MY HUSBAND. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE ITS A MUST WATCH. WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

This movie was blessed for many reasons. But mainly the combination of the greatest leading actor in the history of cinema paired with the greatest script in history.

A real corny movie but if you like vanilla ice it's fun to watch as he would say it let's G.O.

Turn out the lights, and I glow. Ice Ice Baby! Too cold

A favorite movie of mine growing up. So glad its finally on blu ray

Well Vanilla was big for a few mins even big enough to have he’s own movie The opening song was a great beat The movie was sooooo cheesy and I guess that’s why I got it could have not been that bad then….

He was so popular that they gave him his own movie. How can you not watch this? Worth a laugh.