107 minutes, Comedy, M

Arriving early this festive season is our annual Christmas-themed, ensemble comedy LOVE THE COOPERS. Starring Diane Keaton, John Goodman, Olivia Wilde, Jake Lacy, Alan Arkin, Amanda Seyfried, Anthony Mackie, Ed Helms, Marisa Tomei and June Squibb, they individually comprise each member of the Cooper family. Coming together from near and far to the residence of Charlotte and Sam (Keaton & Goodman) for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, the film chronicles their ups and downs en route to dinner where every unexpected revelations will turn the night upside down.

Christmas time is the most wonderful time of the year.
Christmas with the Coopers is the most horrendous time of the year!
Here is a rundown of who is who and what they do during a plot-less, plodding opening hour – Diane Keaton does what Diane Keaton has been doing for the best part of 20 years. Here, as Charlotte, she and husband Sam barely keep their 40 year marriage afloat. And struggle to keep it a secret too. Till death do them part seems a viable option now! Alan Arkin’s Bucky goes all weak at the knees, “I feel much younger inside” over waitress Ruby (Amanda Seyfried). Shoplifting shrink Emma (Marisa Tomei) gives Officer Williams (Anthony Mackie) an obligatory counselling session during the longest drive ever recorded in film to a local station. Olivia Wilde’s Eleanor, in an awfully predictable “met the perfect guy at the wrong but really right time” with the films best character, Joe (Jake Lacy). Then we have Ed Helms as Hank, whose wife Angie (Alex Borstein), has a bad habit of spitting food while she talks and they’re complimented by their son Charlie (Timothee Chalamet), a terrible kisser. Sound like fun to you? But wait, there’s more! The inexplicable need for a narrator (you’ll feel insulted when you discover at the very end just which character narrates the film!) is thrown in, because you know, it’s just all so complicated keeping up with such self-absorbed individuals mundane lives. Yeah, you do not want to spend your Christmas with the Coopers!

1 out of 5

LOVE THE COOPERS – Film Trailer

Footnote to Parents
Contains some sexual content and references, themes and moderate coarse language. At parents discretion for ages 13 and up.

Moviedoc wishes to thank Claire, eOne & The Backlot Studios for the invite to the Melbourne Media Screening of LOVE THE COOPERS.

Review by Moviedoc
“LIKE” on Facebook – Moviedoc (The one with E.T!)

©