Love The Coopers (2015)
Rated PG-13
Starring John Goodman, Diane Keaton, Ed Helms, Steve Martin, Amanda Seyfried, Alan Arkin, Marisa Tomei, Olivia Wilde, Anthony Mackie, Jake Lacy,
Directed by Jessie Nelson
The Story:
The Coopers are all coming home for the holidays. Along the way they are going to confront some uncomfortable truths about themselves and their family. After all, that's what the holidays are for.
While stacked with a lot of comedic actors, this movie isn't so much funny as it is amusing.
It's a dramedy about family dynamics and life choices that don't always turn out the way people want or expect them to.
You've got the parents (Goodman & Keaton) who are going through the motions for the benefit of their children. This will apparently be their last Christmas together and the reasons why are not immediately recognizable but will be slowly unearthed as the movie progresses.
The oldest daughter (Tomei) who runs into a bit of problem with the law (Mackie) trying to decide what to get her sister for Christmas.
The youngest daughter (Wilde) is not ready for another year of being looked down upon, so she grabs a stranger (Lacy) and convinces him to be her fiancée for the holidays.
Then the son (Helms) whose marriage has tanked and he's having issues of his own being a good dad.
Finally grandpa (Arkin) who has the sweetest story of the bunch about his relationship with a young waitress (Seyfried) at the local diner.
Marriages on the rocks. Feelings that have been hurt for years, it will all culminate in the happiest ending possible for this family.
All tied loosely, and rather strangely by narrative from the family dog (Martin) which is rather annoying because he's the dog, and sometimes they use his narration, sometimes they don't. An omniscient narrator would have been just fine, and slightly less annoying.
Worth a viewing, but doubtful to become a beloved holiday tradition in many families.
Final Grade: C+
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