Review: I have to admit, I’m starting to be worn down by the burdening weight of Global Warming advocates and environmental activists. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate their battle and believe they are right, but when it comes down to it, I don’t like being guilted into doing things, and I feel most people can appreciate this sentiment. So, when I first heard about Everything’s Cool I fully expected it to be just another environmentalist scolding people through interviews or sleek Powerpoint slides (side note, do you really think Al Gore made those slides, or did he hire someone? Because they are so pretty). Of course, I realized about 30 seconds into it that I was going to be in for an entirely different treat from the Global Warming norm. What Everything’s Cool does well is turn a serious subject matter that has been heard over and over again into a new and refreshing idea that is both informative and entertaining. I truly believe directors Daniel Gold and Judith Helfand drew inspiration from Thank You For Smoking, because there are so many parallels in both style, humor and wit that you can’t help but draw comparisons. If you’re a veteran to this topic, you have to appreciate this. I will admit that there is an unfortunate drawback to Gold and Helfand’s approach, and that is that their film all but requires at least a decent background in the theories of Global Warming. Of course, our post-eco Gore world is fully inundated with these ideas, but it would not surprise me if a decent portion of audiences walk away from the film wondering if they learned anything of importance. However, if you do have a background, you will be able to indulge in the back stage pass to the Global Warming debate Everything’s Cool offers. For instance, few people remember how Rick Piltz quit his government position in order to report censorship within government sponsored investigations into Global Warming. This is just one story Gold and Helfand retell in a way that retains both fact and humanity. I will admit there is very little to complain about, but if you had to twist my arm to find a fault, I’d point to the technical side of the documentary. Though a 3 out of 5 is too harsh a score, I leave it because I thought the filmmakers chose to pass on a perfect ending with Ross Gelbspan. Though the next 5 minutes are certainly interesting and entertaining, it is my personal preference and it is in no way a huge knock against the film. Ultimately, if you are a fan of Blue Vinyl, interested in seeing a different approach to the Global Warming crisis, or if you just want to be both entertained and informed, I have to highly recommend Everything’s Cool. You could certainly do a lot worse with your Friday night film selection. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 4- an insightful look at the politics and information strategies surrounding the Global Warming debate, but don’t expect too much hard evidence to prove that Global Warming is occurring. Entertainment: 5- manages to combine Al Gore with the wit and irony of Thank You for Smoking. Technical: 3- cartoon animations and musical selections combine with solid editing to propel the film beyond the few snags that pop up. Overall: 4- a powerfully entertaining look at why its taken nearly 20 years for scientists to prove their case for Global Warming.
 
Format: DVD Year: 2007 Running Time: 94 Min Distributor: City Lights Pictures Producer: Daniel Gold, Judith Helfand, Chris Pilaro and Adam Wolfensohn Director: Daniel Gold and Judith Helfand Date Reviewed: 12-15-2007 Story: In this documentary, filmmakers Daniel Gold and Judith Helfand (Blue Vinyl) follow a troupe of self-proclaimed global warming "warriors" on a mission to get the world to care about rising temperatures and melting polar ice caps. Taking a topic that's inherently serious and applying their signature blend of humor and emotional heft, Gold and Helfand advance the environmental dialogue in a surprisingly entertaining way (NetFlix).