I Love You, Beth Cooper (20th Century Fox)
More Like Than Love
Christopher Columbus directs the new film I Love You, Beth Cooper. He gives the film an ample dose of heartwarming humor and maybe a little more gravity than the subject matter deserves. Paul Rust gives life to the nerdy kid who falls for the head cheerleader at his high school. Hayden Panettiere gives the cheerleader just the right amount of trashiness to make her character ring true. In total you end up liking I Love You, Beth Cooper but not loving it.
The movie opens with a high school graduation. Denis Cooverman (Rust) makes his valedictory speech and in it he professes his love for Beth Cooper (Panettiere). As soon as his graduation is over Beths muscle bound boyfriend Kevin (Shawn Roberts) comes after him. The rest of the movie concerns Denis, his friend Rich (Jack T Carpenter), Beth and her two friends Cammy and Treece (Lauren London and Lauren Storm) trying to get away from Kevin and in turn having an adventurous night.
During the course of the night Denis finds out Beth is not the perfect girl he has worshipped from afar, and Beth learns there is more to life than looks and fun. She and Denis bond in a way and that makes for some sweet moments in the movie.
Rust and Carpenter make a funny pair of buddies. They both have great comic timing and Rust is especially adept at playing geeky panic at the thought of being hurt. Panettiere is pretty as can be and perfectly suits every high school boys fantasy. She also dives into her role of Beth Cooper with enthusiasm.
Cynthia Stevenson and Alan Ruck play Denis parents. They do not make much of an impact. Andrea Savage makes more of an impression with her brief role as Dr. Gleason, the principal of the high school. You leave wishing you knew more about her character.
The movie is rated PG-13 but dont take that rating lightly. There is teenage drinking, sexual activities and profanity.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is not an important movie or an overly entertaining one. Still you can get a few laughs along the way. Plus the story of one boys dream crush and the reality behind the dream gives some insight into high school life.
I scored I Love You, Beth Cooper a crushed 5 out of 10.
