I Love You, Beth Cooper Stars Hayden Panettiere
Coming of Age Comedy by Director Christopher Columbus, Heroes Star
Sep 28, 2009
Many times dreams do not live up to their reality. Denis Cooverman finds that out in I Love You, Beth Cooper. A coming of age comedy, it stars Hayden Panettiere of Heroes fame as the beautiful Beth Cooper and Paul Rust as the love struck Denis Cooverman. Funnier than the trailer would leave one to believe, I Love You, Beth Cooper brings to life the saying “be careful what you wish for, because you may get it.”
I Love You, Beth Cooper Synopsis
Denis Cooverman is about to change his life. Yes he will be graduating high school as Valedictorian and moving on to Stanford pre-med. More importantly he plans to declare his love for the head cheerleader, Beth Cooper, at the graduation ceremony. Along with his undying love, Denis takes his moment in the sun to call out a few others on issues, like Beth’s boyfriend and the bully that beat him up.
Angering his peers puts this outcast further on the fringe, but it seemed to endear him to Beth. She shows up at Denis’ house with her two girlfriends for a graduation bash that happens to be a dud. Kevin, Beth’s boyfriend, shows up in a cocaine fueled ‘roid-rage and tears apart Denis’ house trying to tear him apart. Beth comes to the rescue of Denis and takes him and his buddy out for a night they will never forget.
Now that Denis is getting to know the real Beth Cooper, the reality is shattering the illusion. He realizes that he has built up a caricature of what he wanted that was not based on the person. Will he still love Beth Cooper once he sees to her heart?
I Love You, Beth Cooper Dark and Dirty
I Love You, Beth Cooper was written by Larry Doyle and is based on the novel of the same name also written by Doyle. It’s a high school, coming of age comedy that has taken a page from Judd Apatow. There is a little darkness and perversion that rides through the film leaving a dirty tinge.
Hayden Panettiere takes her cheerleader role to another level. She leaves the good girl hero behind and digs up the dirt. Beth Cooper is a bit looser than people may be used to seeing Panettiere act. When turned down buying beer she offers the clerk to "kiss you so good, you'll mess your underwear when you think about it later." It's not shown but's it talked about. There is also a scene where Panettiere drops her towel standing in front Paul Rust and turns headed into the showers with her girlfriends, inviting the boys along.
Once the shock wears off of seeing Panettiere play such a different role, the audience is taken from one unrealistic adventure after another. Reality must be suspended and stretched through many of the goings on. If this was even close to real life many of the outcomes would be different. Denis would be dead, Kevin would be in prison and Beth would have an STD.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is a not exactly a sweet teen movie like something John Hughes would make. It’s a new breed that seems to rub dirt all over the candy. By trying to add realism it goes a little too far the other way and makes the characters less lovable. While the humor is there, the connection to the characters is strained at best. But between the violence and promiscuity there is a good message. People don’t belong on pedestals.
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