Coopers' Christmas

  • Review Date: November 17, 2010
  • NR
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2010
Review

Common Sense Media says

Over-the-top comedy pushes limits of language, drinking.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that teenage fans of the The Daily Show might be clamoring to see this Christmas movie starring Samantha Bee and Jason Jones. But be forewarned: the content pushes every conceivable limit, putting kids and teens in the midst of normally inappropriate settings (teen girls being ogled by family members, explicit sexual situations, heavy drinking and smoking, a suicide attempt). It's all played for humor, of course, but younger viewers might not be able to tell the difference.

  • Positive messages0
    A comedy stewed in do-not-try-this-at-home moments. Besides the lewd moments, a female teen is sexually harassed by her father and another is told to go kill himself, which he tries to do, with comedic consequences.
  • Positive role models0
    The worst behavior possible is modeled in front of kids -- all with comedic intentions. Disrespectful language, bald infidelity, sexual lewdness, and dangerous behavior all snowball as the alcohol consumption increases.    
  • Violence3
    Fighting among adults, which includes kicking in the groin, destroying a relative's car then killing him by running him over with another car (all played for laughs).
  • Sex5
    Graphic images of naked people having sex -- or trying to. Reference to impotence, penis pumps, children's erections, vulgar stories, and finger gestures.
  • Language5
    Every curse word in the book -- many uttered by kids or teens.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    Humorous, but excessive use of cigarettes and alcohol. Characters smoke cigarettes in every shot, since every adult cast member (except for the pregnant lady) smokes (it's 1985 afterall). Excessive drinking to the point of unconsciousness. Drunk driving resulting in the death of a few pedestrians.
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What's the story?

It's Christmas 1985 and Gord Cooper (The Daily Show's Jason Jones) forgives his neighbor's $2000 debt when the neighbor gives him a video reorder. The family proceeds to tape Christmas day, which devolves significantly when Gord's estranged brother Tim shows up. The family nearly falls apart when skeletons come tumbling out of the closet.

Is it any good?

 

You think your family's dysfunctional? The Coopers' Christmas starts out pretty normal -- considering the fact that the adults smoke at the breakfast table and the neighbor is giving his sex tapes to the Cooper family so that they can record their holiday festivities over the smut-filled cassettes. But when Uncle Tim (Peter Keleghan) shows up and puts the moves on pregnant mama Nancy Cooper (Samantha Bee), family harmony gets flushed down the toilet.

Some of the funny stuff does rise above the morass, but the excessive drinking and the terribly lewd behavior of the adults is more shocking knowing that the person filming most of the content is 11-year-old son Teddy (Dylan Everett). Creepy behavior from adults who leer at young female relatives is a definite turn-off. In total, the gross, wasted, crass behavior takes much of the funny out of this comedy.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how racy language can influence tweens and teens. What kind of language limits exist in your household? When, if ever, is it OK to use curse words or suggestive language? Does the company (kids, parents) change the kind of language you use?

  • Talk about the smoking and drinking that goes on in this movie. How do cigarette and alcohol use in the movies influences young viewers?

This review was written by Joly Herman

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Joly Herman
Studio:Anchor Bay Entertainment
Director:Warren B. Sonoda
Cast:Jason Jones, Mike Beaver, Samantha Bee
Genre:Comedy
Run time:92 minutes
DVD release date:November 16, 2010
MPAA rating:NR
This review was written by Joly Herman
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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