I Love You Beth Cooper
Encyclopedia
I Love You, Beth Cooper is a 2009 comedy film
directed by Chris Columbus
. It is based on the novel of the same name
, written by Larry Doyle, a former writer of The Simpsons
. The film stars Hayden Panettiere
and Paul Rust
with Jack T. Carpenter.
) confesses his love for long time crush, Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere
) in his speech, while also taunting a girl with an eating disorder, an ignorant bully, Beth's boyfriend Kevin (Shawn Roberts
), and urging his best friend Rich Munsch (Jack T. Carpenter) to admit he is gay. Afterwards, Denis invites Beth and her friends, Cammy (Lauren London
) and Treece (Lauren Storm
), to a party he has planned.
At Denis' house, his parents leave with his father revealing that he has condoms upstairs. The girls arrive at the party staying only for a couple of minutes. Kevin comes with his friends vowing revenge on Denis. They attempt to beat them up but it results in everyone running away in Beth's car.
They drive to a gas station hoping to get beer but are told that they can't buy it. So Beth bribes the cashier with a kiss, and the cashier accepts, which makes Denis realize that she is not who he thinks she is. They then start a bonfire where Rich, Cammy and Treece are chased by a stampede of cows after trying to tip one over. Denis then puts on the song Beth
, and is told that she was named after that song.
They all get in the car and drive without lights. They then stumble upon Denis' father (Alan Ruck
) and mother (Cynthia Stevenson
) having sex in their car. They drive away unseen to a private party, meeting Kevin once again. Kevin challenges Denis to a fight and Beth crashes his Hummer into a wall, before driving away to the empty school. After a while, Kevin and his buddies appear and Kevin duels Rich to towel whipping each other. Rich has, however, been training for years, after being towel whipped at a young age. They escape to Treece's father's cabin where Rich, Treece, and Cammy have a threesome and Beth and Denis have their first kiss together.
They head to Denis' afterwards, where his parents punish him for leaving the house in a mess. Beth says goodbye to Denis, gives him a kiss, and thanks him for loving her. Denis promises that if they are still single at the reunion, he will marry her. Rich also realizes that he might be homosexual or bisexual. After Beth leaves with the girls, Denis informs Rich that he was just playing about waiting till the reunion to talk to Beth again. He informs Rich that he will ask her out on a date soon and they begin debating how Denis should go about asking Beth on a date.
was to be made into a film, with Heroes
actress Hayden Panettiere
in the title role. Filming began in 2008, with a release slated for July 10, 2009. The film was directed by Chris Columbus
, with the screenplay written by Doyle.
Filming took place at Centennial Secondary School, Magee Secondary School
and at St. Patrick's Regional Secondary
; which are all located in Vancouver
, British Columbia
.
The film's official website was launched on February 14, 2009 with a Valentine's Day themed "personalize your own trailer and e-card" widget that allowed for customization of the trailer and that could be sent to loved ones, friends and family.
The film was produced and originally to be released by Fox specialty subsidiary Fox Atomic
, but theatrical distribution reverted back to 20th Century Fox
after Atomic folded in April 2009.
gave a rating of 14% based on 110 professional reviews. The consensus being: Heavily reliant on stereotypes and shallow teen comedy clichés, I Love You Beth Cooper is a humorless affair that fails to capture the charm of its source novel. Ben Lyons from At the Movies
called the film "The Worst Film of 2009 So Far," panning it for its stereotypical portrayal of high school students and glorification of drinking and driving.
Cinematical stated that much of the dialogue was lifted directly from the book, but when spoken on screen, the lines fall flat. "The adaptation from R-rated novel to PG-13 film comes into play." In a scene where Beth and Denis try to buy beer, Beth offers to kiss the store clerk so that she can buy the beer but the viewer does not see the kiss. Cinematical calls Pannettiere’s performance unconvincing as a "rule-breaking girl who walks on the wild side".
Rolling Stone
was highly critical of director Chris Columbus
. The publication felt that Columbus flattened every joke and sucked the life out of the actors. In addition, the publication felt that Columbus's flair for sight gags reached its peak when Denis uses two tampons to stem a nosebleed.
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
. It is based on the novel of the same name
I Love You, Beth Cooper
I Love You, Beth Cooper is a comedy novel written by former The Simpsons writer Larry Doyle.- Plot summary :At his high school graduation, valedictorian Denis Cooverman states to the entire gymnasium that he's had a crush on cheerleader Beth Cooper for six years...
, written by Larry Doyle, a former writer of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. The film stars Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
and Paul Rust
Paul Rust
Paul Robert Rust is an American actor, comedian and writer.-Life and career:Rust was born in Le Mars, Iowa to Jeanne and Bob Rust...
with Jack T. Carpenter.
Plot
On high school graduation day, valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul RustPaul Rust
Paul Robert Rust is an American actor, comedian and writer.-Life and career:Rust was born in Le Mars, Iowa to Jeanne and Bob Rust...
) confesses his love for long time crush, Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
) in his speech, while also taunting a girl with an eating disorder, an ignorant bully, Beth's boyfriend Kevin (Shawn Roberts
Shawn Roberts
-Life and career:Roberts was born in Stratford, Ontario on April 2, 1984. He started with playing the wolf in a school play of "Little Red Riding Hood" award-winning screenwriter Robert Forsythe and his friend's father helped him get a role in Emily of New Moon...
), and urging his best friend Rich Munsch (Jack T. Carpenter) to admit he is gay. Afterwards, Denis invites Beth and her friends, Cammy (Lauren London
Lauren London
Lauren Nicole London is an American film and television actress, model, and occasional music video actress. Beginning her career in music videos and later transitioning into film and television, London earned recognition for her performances in the film ATL as well as the television shows 90210...
) and Treece (Lauren Storm
Lauren Storm
Lauren Marlene Storm is an American actress. She appeared on several television shows, before being cast as Taylor Hagan on the Discovery Kids series Flight 29 Down.-Early life:...
), to a party he has planned.
At Denis' house, his parents leave with his father revealing that he has condoms upstairs. The girls arrive at the party staying only for a couple of minutes. Kevin comes with his friends vowing revenge on Denis. They attempt to beat them up but it results in everyone running away in Beth's car.
They drive to a gas station hoping to get beer but are told that they can't buy it. So Beth bribes the cashier with a kiss, and the cashier accepts, which makes Denis realize that she is not who he thinks she is. They then start a bonfire where Rich, Cammy and Treece are chased by a stampede of cows after trying to tip one over. Denis then puts on the song Beth
Beth (song)
"Beth" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1976 album, Destroyer. To date, it is their highest-charting single, reaching #7 on Billboard's American charts. It is one of only two Gold selling singles for the band , and their first of two Top Ten singles...
, and is told that she was named after that song.
They all get in the car and drive without lights. They then stumble upon Denis' father (Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck
Alan Ruck is an American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Stuart Bondek on Spin City.-Early life:...
) and mother (Cynthia Stevenson
Cynthia Stevenson
Cynthia Stevenson is an American actress.Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, the daughter of Gayle, an editor, and Al Stevenson, an upholstery warehouse owner. She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia....
) having sex in their car. They drive away unseen to a private party, meeting Kevin once again. Kevin challenges Denis to a fight and Beth crashes his Hummer into a wall, before driving away to the empty school. After a while, Kevin and his buddies appear and Kevin duels Rich to towel whipping each other. Rich has, however, been training for years, after being towel whipped at a young age. They escape to Treece's father's cabin where Rich, Treece, and Cammy have a threesome and Beth and Denis have their first kiss together.
They head to Denis' afterwards, where his parents punish him for leaving the house in a mess. Beth says goodbye to Denis, gives him a kiss, and thanks him for loving her. Denis promises that if they are still single at the reunion, he will marry her. Rich also realizes that he might be homosexual or bisexual. After Beth leaves with the girls, Denis informs Rich that he was just playing about waiting till the reunion to talk to Beth again. He informs Rich that he will ask her out on a date soon and they begin debating how Denis should go about asking Beth on a date.
Cast
- Hayden PanettiereHayden PanettiereHayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
as Beth Cooper - Paul RustPaul RustPaul Robert Rust is an American actor, comedian and writer.-Life and career:Rust was born in Le Mars, Iowa to Jeanne and Bob Rust...
as Denis Cooverman - Jack T. Carpenter as Richard "Rich/Dick" Munsch
- Lauren LondonLauren LondonLauren Nicole London is an American film and television actress, model, and occasional music video actress. Beginning her career in music videos and later transitioning into film and television, London earned recognition for her performances in the film ATL as well as the television shows 90210...
as Cameron "Cammy" Alcott - Lauren StormLauren StormLauren Marlene Storm is an American actress. She appeared on several television shows, before being cast as Taylor Hagan on the Discovery Kids series Flight 29 Down.-Early life:...
as Teresa "Treece" Kilmer - Shawn RobertsShawn Roberts-Life and career:Roberts was born in Stratford, Ontario on April 2, 1984. He started with playing the wolf in a school play of "Little Red Riding Hood" award-winning screenwriter Robert Forsythe and his friend's father helped him get a role in Emily of New Moon...
as Kevin Micheals - Brendan PennyBrendan PennyBrendan Penny is a Canadian film and television actor, best known for starring as A.J. Varland in the first season of Whistler. He is also starring in the 2009 series The Assistants as Danny Newell.-Life and career:...
as Sean Doyle - Jared KeesoJared KeesoJared Keeso is a Canadian actor. He has had a variety of minor roles in both television series and movies, but is best known for his starring role in the Canadian biographic film of legendary hockey commentator Don Cherry, for which he won a Leo Award for best male performance in a feature length...
as Dustin Klepacki - Marie Avgeropoulos as Valli Wooley
- Josh Emerson as Greg Saloga
- Alan RuckAlan RuckAlan Ruck is an American film, stage and television actor, perhaps best known for his roles as Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Stuart Bondek on Spin City.-Early life:...
as Mr. Cooverman - Cynthia StevensonCynthia StevensonCynthia Stevenson is an American actress.Stevenson was born in Oakland, California, the daughter of Gayle, an editor, and Al Stevenson, an upholstery warehouse owner. She grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia....
as Mrs. Cooverman - Pat FinnPat Finn (actor)Pat Finn is an American film and television actor.He has guest-starred in numerous television series, notably Friends, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Seinfeld, The King of Queens, That '70s Show, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Wizards of Waverly Place, House and other series...
as Coach Raupp - Andrea SavageAndrea SavageAndrea Kristen Savage is an American actress best known for her comedic roles in Step Brothers, Comedy Central's mockumentry series Dog Bites Man and in the HBO sketch comedy program Funny or Die Presents.-Personal life:...
as Dr. Gleason - Samm LevineSamm LevineSamuel Franklin "Samm" Levine is an American television and film actor. He is known for his portrayal of Neal Schweiber on NBC's short-lived Freaks and Geeks and PFC Hirschberg in the hit 2009 film Inglourious Basterds...
as Convenience Store Clerk - Maggie MaMaggie MaMaggie Ma is a Chinese-Canadian film actress. She is best known for playing the role of Perry in Final Destination 3.-Trivia:...
as Raupp's Sophomore
Production
In early 2008, producers announced the novel I Love You, Beth CooperI Love You, Beth Cooper
I Love You, Beth Cooper is a comedy novel written by former The Simpsons writer Larry Doyle.- Plot summary :At his high school graduation, valedictorian Denis Cooverman states to the entire gymnasium that he's had a crush on cheerleader Beth Cooper for six years...
was to be made into a film, with Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
actress Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Leslie Panettiere is an American actress and singer, best known as cheerleader Claire Bennet on the NBC television series Heroes. She began her acting career by playing Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live , and Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light , before starring at age 10 as Sheryl Yoast in...
in the title role. Filming began in 2008, with a release slated for July 10, 2009. The film was directed by Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
, with the screenplay written by Doyle.
Filming took place at Centennial Secondary School, Magee Secondary School
Magee Secondary School
Magee Secondary School is one of the first public high schools located in the Kerrisdale neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Magee is fed by the surrounding elementary schools in its catchment area. They include Maple Grove Elementary School, Dr. R.E. McKechnie Elementary School,...
and at St. Patrick's Regional Secondary
St. Patrick's Regional Secondary
St. Patrick Regional Secondary School is a Catholic school in Vancouver, under the administration of CISVA school board....
; which are all located in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
The film's official website was launched on February 14, 2009 with a Valentine's Day themed "personalize your own trailer and e-card" widget that allowed for customization of the trailer and that could be sent to loved ones, friends and family.
The film was produced and originally to be released by Fox specialty subsidiary Fox Atomic
Fox Atomic
Fox Atomic was a production label of film studio 20th Century Fox created in 2006 to generate comedy and genre films.In 2008, Fox Atomic scaled back its production operations and shut down all marketing divisions...
, but theatrical distribution reverted back to 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
after Atomic folded in April 2009.
Reviews
The film was subject to many negative reviews. Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
gave a rating of 14% based on 110 professional reviews. The consensus being: Heavily reliant on stereotypes and shallow teen comedy clichés, I Love You Beth Cooper is a humorless affair that fails to capture the charm of its source novel. Ben Lyons from At the Movies
At the Movies
At the Movies is an Australian television program on ABC1 hosted by film critics Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, in which they discuss the films opening in theatres that week.-History:...
called the film "The Worst Film of 2009 So Far," panning it for its stereotypical portrayal of high school students and glorification of drinking and driving.
Cinematical stated that much of the dialogue was lifted directly from the book, but when spoken on screen, the lines fall flat. "The adaptation from R-rated novel to PG-13 film comes into play." In a scene where Beth and Denis try to buy beer, Beth offers to kiss the store clerk so that she can buy the beer but the viewer does not see the kiss. Cinematical calls Pannettiere’s performance unconvincing as a "rule-breaking girl who walks on the wild side".
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
was highly critical of director Chris Columbus
Chris Columbus (filmmaker)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Columbus is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Columbus had his largest success with the first two films in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, along with Home Alone, the last...
. The publication felt that Columbus flattened every joke and sucked the life out of the actors. In addition, the publication felt that Columbus's flair for sight gags reached its peak when Denis uses two tampons to stem a nosebleed.