I Love You, Beth Cooper DVD Review

I Love You, Beth Cooper is a self-proclaimed spoof by director and writer Larry Dowle, released on November 3rd by Sunrise Entertainment. The spoof has to do with high school characters who don’t turn out to be who we initially thought that they were. The crux is between lead cheerleader Beth (Hayden Panettiere) and valedictorian Dennis Cooverman (Paul Rust). Beth always has to hear men say that they love her because they want to sleep with her, so she becomes somewhat cynical; Dennis is dominated by his parents and physical guys who like to gang up on anyone, but especially him!

Larry Dowle had a (literal) dream in which he told a girl from high school that he loved her (during his own valedictory speech). Dennis appears shy and dorky and his constant companion is Rich (Jack T. Carpenter), who knows and recalls so much about films that he’s constantly stating that he isn’t gay! Beth never learned to drive well and in a flashback her driving instructor is appalled that she’s killed everyone (seven neon cones in a parking lot). This relates to her driving haphazardly and FAST, needless to say, during the rest of the film.

Rated PG 13, I Love You, Beth Cooper can be watched with the entire family (the “blows” are fake and obviously not as lethal as they’re meant to be, however angry a young high school male can get). Beth’s soon-to-be-ex boyfriend Kevin (Shaun Roberts) is constantly defending Beth with his fists, especially after Dennis’ “unusual” speech.

Director Larry Dowle states that “this is definitely not a love story”, but inevitably I Love You, Beth Cooper IS a love story – however the love is far more reaching – many of the characters begin to love themselves and then have affection for their companions. If you don’t follow this film to the end it will seem like just another wacky teenage flick (e.g. until the VERY end we find out that Treece – Lauren Stone – has hidden Shapearean and literary knowledge and is not just a flake, which she shows to the outside world for “social survival” in high school, and in college will study acting). For this reason (learning how we all project stereotypes onto strangers) I highly recommend this movie, as it runs against the norm in the understanding of most interactions!

Grade: B

Director: Larry Dowle
Starring: Paul Rust, Hayden Panettierre, Jack T. Carpenter, Shaun Roberts

DVD Review by Christina of Movie Room Reviews

Tags: Hayden Panattiere, I Love You Beth Cooper, Jack T. Carpenter, Larry Dowle, Paul Rust, Shaun Roberts