Cool World (1992 film) | Opinion [Major Spoilers‼️]

'Cool World' (1992)

Plot Synopsis –

After a bizarre incident, Frank Harris (Brad Pitt) is transported into the cartoon realm of Cool World, where he remains the only human among various animated characters for years. Eventually, artist Jack Deebs (Gabriel Byrne) also enters Cool World and sets his lustful sights on his own creation, a blond bombshell named Holli Would (Kim Basinger). However, excessive intermingling between cartoons and humans is said to lead to dire consequences, a risk Jack seems ready to take.

Opinion –

To me, 'Cool World' represents a cautionary tale of a girl who simply wants to be something she is not which is to be than ink on a cartoon page. As Holli Would says, "I know that movie by heart. The girl gets everything by the end of it everything she every wanted." 

But — 'Cool World' isn't that movie. Cool World is such a dangerous place to be in that even if Holli Would she could; she ultimately fails at getting what she wants — to be more than a cartoon vixen, to be real. Holli only wants to be real and it is ultimately the men, referrred to as "noids" that get in her way. With Frank Harris trying to keep Cool World safe as Jack Deebs does the one thing that could jeopardize it. 

Frank Harris: Noids do not have sex with doodles. Right? Noids do no have sex with doodles! It's the oldest law in Cool World.

With Jack Deebs being seduced by his own drawing, he turns a cartoon into the real thing leading to disastrous results.

The consequences lead Frank to right the wrongs. But— even in Frank's attempts to right the wrong, he fails to put the genie back in the bottle. 

Frank Harris: [to Holli Would, now human] You know, sweetheart, you look good in flesh. It's almost a shame I gotta take you back. You are going back, you know?

In the end, Holli learns — unjustly (in my opinion) — that you can't get everything you want and that there are consequences to being what you are not. 

In my opinion, this is bogus.

Holli merely wanted someplace where she belong and be what she wanted to be — her real self. Maybe 'Cool World' was the saying "greener pastures" on film — but Holli shouldn't have been crucified just because she wanted something different.

The only characters that are rewarded are Frank and Jack because they both get turned into cartoon characters and are able to continue their cartoon-y relationships. While Holli's cartoon design is even worse than before.

(Below are images from the movies and it's characters; Holli Would, Frank Harris & Jack Deebs.)

'Cool World' trailer 

I still love the movie; it was like watching 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' on acid. I also enjoyed the plot despite the uninspiring ending and continue to love the design of the cartoon world and its real counterparts.