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As someone who has the great privilege of being able to write about his impressions of movies, I’m going to say something here that may seem a bit out of place: I love a good book.
I think it starts with my love of story. They captivate me. I love to hear them and love to tell them
And even though both movies and books contain stories, there’s a certain feeling of accomplishment that comes from finishing a good book that one doesn't get from seeing a movie. And I felt that familiar and welcome feeling after finishing the book this movie is based on, Larry Doyle’s I Love You, Beth Cooper. Almost immediately after finishing the book I read that a studio had bought the rights to make it into a movie. My heart soared. Then I read that it was Fox. And my heart dropped.As a film, this adaptation completely falls flat. But as a message, it troubles me much more.
But even though I’ve come to know that almost every movie Fox puts out is…sub-par, I still couldn’t help but feel a little excited to see how Hollywood visualized the story.
I was left feeling… nothing.
I Love You, Beth Cooper is the story of Denis Cooverman. His high school graduating class’ valedictorian, Denis has spent his time just trying to survive. He’s never tried to stand out or really form any relationships (other than his best friend, Rich Munsch). So he decides to take advantage of his “last opportunity” to tell the girl of his dreams exactly how he feels about her during his speech to his graduating class. He also tells everybody else he knows exactly how he feels about them. And it’s the fallout from these revelations that propels Denis, Rich, Beth and her two best friends, Cammy and Treece (no relation), into a wild night that finally gives Denis the chance to get to know his dream girl.
I’ve seen a lot of movies this summer that have left me feeling nothing. It could be the effects of the writers’ strike finally showing, but I think in this case it’s mainly about casting.
First off, no one in the group of five leads (who are all supposed to be graduating seniors) is younger than 20. In fact, other than Hayden Panettiere, they are 25 to 28. Secondly, everyone has a little bit of trouble connecting with their character. Paul Rust seems much too old to be Denis. Hayden is, once again, typecast as a “hot cheerleader." Lauren London (as Cammy) turns in one of the worst performances I’ve seen this year. The two glimmers of light that shine in this movie are Lauren Storm as the sometimes funny Treece, and Denis’ best friend Rich, played wonderfully by Jack Carpenter. I really hope Carpenter gets a ton more work after this, as he embodies Rich with an enthusiasm that actually seems like a real graduating High School senior might have.
As a film, this adaptation completely falls flat. But as a message, it troubles me much more. It troubles me because it adds one more film to the already giant stockpile that says, “In order for you to consider high school ‘successful’ you need to break the law, cause property damage, drink tons of alcohol, and have sex.”
Is that really what Hollywood thinks? Is it really what the world as a whole thinks? I hope not.
Josh Treece can’t wait until the latest Harry Potter movie is released. Hopefully it makes up for the other stinker movies this summer has produced. When he’s not waiting for that, he’s ministering to teenagers.
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