Cool World (1992)
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A cartoonist's creation comes to life, leading to a dangerous blurring of the lines between reality and a cartoon-based universe.
The story
In 1945 Las Vegas, World War II veteran Frank Harris is involved in a fatal traffic collision with his mother, after which he is transported to a cartoon-based alternate universe called 'Cool World'. Forty-seven years later, underground cartoonist Jack Deebs is released from prison for murdering his wife's lover. Having created a series of comics based on visions of a sultry femme fatale named Holli Would, Jack is also transported into Cool World. There, he is confronted by Frank, who warns him that Holli seeks to become a real human being by having sex with humans, a process that could risk both dimensions.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1945 Las Vegas, WWII veteran Frank Harris is transported to 'Cool World' after a fatal accident. Forty-seven years later, cartoonist Jack Deebs is released from prison and also enters Cool World. Jack is seduced by Holli Would, a doodle who wants to become a 'noid' (human) by having sex with one. Frank warns Jack of the dangers, but Jack eventually succumbs to Holli's advances, transforming her into a noid. Holli steals Jack's pen and they flee to the real world, where they flicker between forms. Holli seeks the 'Spike of Power' to remain human permanently. Frank returns to the real world and teams up with Jack to stop her. During the confrontation, Holli pushes Frank to his death and releases monstrous doodles into the real world, transforming Jack into a superhero-based doodle. Jack returns the Spike to its rightful place, restoring balance and sending the doodles back. Frank is revived as a doodle in Cool World, while Jack begins planning a future with Holli.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ralph Bakshi
- Writers
- Michael Grais · writer; Mark Victor · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kim Basinger · Holli Would; Gabriel Byrne · Jack Deebs; Brad Pitt · Frank Harris
- Genres
- live-action animated fantasy; horror; comedy
- Themes
- Reality vs. Fiction; Identity; Consequences of Obsession
- Tone and mood
- Dark; Surreal; Tumultuous
- Setting
- Las Vegas and a cartoon-based alternate universe in the 1940s, 1990s, and present.
- Premise and plot tags
- Live-action/Animation; Parallel Universes; Fantasy; Cartoon Characters
- Source material / true-story basis
- Original concept by Ralph Bakshi
- Reception
- The film was a box-office failure and received largely negative reviews from critics, who panned the plot and characters despite praising the visuals and soundtrack.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 4% · review count: 51; Metacritic · score: 28 · review count: 16; CinemaScore · score: C · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Actress · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's marketing involved altering the Hollywood Sign with a cutout of Holli Would.; The film's sets were based on enlargements of designer Barry Jackson's paintings.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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