Posted: 12/10/2001

Out Cold

(2001)

by Todd A. Kimmelman

Now leaving a theater near you.

Part music video, part Warren Miller movie, Out Cold was way better than I expected. Going in, I figured this movie would be something better suited to USA’s ” Up All Night” rather than the big screen.

Out Cold will make its cable television debut eventually, but its kitchy qualities make it big screen worthy. This is actually a clever little film disguised as a total piece of crap, which is the main reason why your local multiplex is no longer showing it. Instead, Harry Palms, err, Potter is showing on 18 of the 20 screens, the fist sign of the coming apocalypse and signaling that it will be a bountiful Christmas for Steve Case and Gerald Levin this year. Out Cold pays homage to some of the most entertaining movies, blending in just enough of MTV’s “Jackass” to keep the Maxim demographic hungry for more.

My main motivation to see this movie was star, and total hottie, Jason London. Though hardly discernible from his twin, Jeremy of Party of Five fame, he is fun to look at, but a bit scary to watch act. In Jason’s defense, his role did not require Shakespearean training in order to play local snowboarding professional, and dude-in residence, Rick Rambus. Like Keanu Reeves, the London brothers excel in roles that utilize the words “dude,” “whoa,” and “bitchin.’”

What makes Out Cold stand out from all those nondescript USA movies is that someone actually put thought into making this one. Sure it has some elements from those films the voluptuous Rhonda Shear used to introduce, but it almost seems deliberate. Sadly, most people (probably including some of you) don’t realize that it takes as much, if not more talent, to create beautiful garbage.

Some of the more delightfully trashy elements of Out Cold include 1997 Playboy Playmate of the Year, Victoria Silvstedt, as the clichéd Inga (quelle surprise). You’ll be shocked to discover that Inga is the “rebellious” (read: slutty) daughter of evil ski resort mogul Jack Majors, played by Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors. Apparently Majors, who also helped produce this gem, didn’t want to stray too far from his trademark name. Suffice to say, Inga doesn’t have many lines to speak, so her time on screen is spent mostly bopping around in tight-fitting garments that emphasize her considerable (and considerably expensive from the looks of them) assets.

Zach Galifianakis (say that five times fast) is another bright spot in this film. He plays Luke, friend of Rick, brother to Pig Pen and local booze-hound. Some of the funniest scenes take place during Luke’s benders, including his getting friendly with a polar bear and even friendlier with a Jacuzzi water jet.

Out Cold is a remarkably uncomplicated movie. It doesn’t fill itself with the usual pretense of being a fine work of art, nor does it try to lure you into thinking it’s going to be something it’s not, thus my initial impression that it was going to be a huge, steaming pile of crap. Out Cold is so simple that there are only 13 credited members of the cast (at least according to IMDb).

Sure the Academy will forget Out Cold come awards season—hell, they’ve already forgotten about it along with the rest of America—but that doesn’t mean that you have to as well. Grab your snowboard and your best winter hat (the one with the pom-pom on top, of course), and check it out, even if you have to wait to rent the video.

Todd A. Kimmelman is perpetually between jobs, so he watches films in NY and looks for latte.

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