Coopers' Christmas (a.k.a. Coopers' Camera)
A Real Kick in the Bells
On December 25, 1985, suburban husband and father Gord Cooper accepted a "barely used" VHS video camera from a creepy neighbor to settle a $2000 debt. Gord then gave the camera to his family as their Christmas gift. This lewd, rude and hilarious saga of crappy presents, mean grandmas, drunk uncles, and sluttish cousins is the result of this gift.
Jason Jones and Samantha Bee of The Daily Show star – along with Dave Foley of Newsradio and The Kids in the Hall – in the twisted new holiday comedy that The National Post calls "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation meets Cloverfield!"
Member Reviews
So Canadian - RobBC
Sonoda takes the standard Dysfunctional Family Holiday plot and tries to give it a new spin in this occasionally funny, so-so comedy supposedly spliced together using “found” VHS tapes from December 1985. They tell the story of one terrible Christmas in the Cooper home as chronicled by the youngest son using a second-hand video camera Mr. Cooper bought from his sex pervert neighbour. There’s the usual suspects inherent in all these films; the bickering parents, bratty kids, sullen teens, chain-smoking grandma, and assorted relatives from Hell including suave Uncle Tim who may have more than a brother-in-law relationship with Mrs. Cooper. As the alcohol consumption goes up, inhibitions go down and skeletons start flying through the air. There are some very funny moments in this movie that had me laughing out loud despite my better judgement; I guess I’m just a sucker for a well-placed visual and a loud fart. The film’s grainy texture and handheld perspectives are inconsistent but do give the impression of watching old school home videos and, as a little bonus, there are occasional glimpses of the neighbour’s homemade sex movies which the Coopers were not quite able to tape over. Unfortunately it all spirals down into a boozey free-for-all with the humour becoming increasingly forced and scenes of “funny drunks” wearing thin real fast. Sonoda throws in some nice 80s touches though, and Kids in the Hall’s Dave Foley treats us to a full monty. Thanks Dave, but you really shouldn’t have...Raw but entertaining - JayA
I certainly didn't love this film, it has funny moments, and maybe a few laugh out loud bits. It's like a raunchy SCTV episode or something, but not quite as funny. The 'reality' aspect of the camera was entertaining, but there was way too much of Dave Foley to see. Not great but not bad.
Member Reviews
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So Canadian - RobBC
Sonoda takes the standard Dysfunctional Family Holiday plot and tries to give it a new spin in this occasionally funny, so-so comedy supposedly spliced together using “found” VHS tapes from December 1985. They tell the story of one terrible Christmas in the ...Raw but entertaining - JayA
I certainly didn't love this film, it has funny moments, and maybe a few laugh out loud bits. It's like a raunchy SCTV episode or something, but not quite as funny. The 'reality' aspect of the camera was entertaining, but there was way too much of Dave Foley ...