Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Over-the-top comedy pushes limits of language, drinking.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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?
All the gross, wasted, crass behavior takes much of the funny out of this comedy. Some of the humorous stuff does rise above the morass, but the excessive drinking and the terribly lewd behavior of the adults are 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.
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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 16, 2010
- Cast : Jason Jones , Mike Beaver , Samantha Bee
- Director : Warren B. Sonoda
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Anchor Bay Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : July 14, 2022
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