Neutered the Nerd
It's graduation day at Buffalo Glenn High School and valedictorian Denis Cooverman (Paul Rust), spurred on by his friend Rich (Jack T. Carpenter), puts it all out there and announces his undying love for cheerleader Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere - Bring It On: All or Nothing) in front of the entire school and guest parents. But he doesn't stop there and in a moment of candid openness he insults several other students. Despite being embarrassed Beth also finds his declaration sweet and later on along with a couple of friends attends his graduation party at his home. But some of those he offended along with Beth's meat-headed ex boyfriend show up and so starts a wild night as Denis, Beth, Rich and Beth's friend end up heading off in Beth's car to avoid her ex whilst having a series of adventures.
Why is it as I watched "I Love You, Beth Cooper" did it feel like I have seen it all before, oh that's because it reworks an incredibly familiar storyline of the geek having the hots of the school hottie and she proving that she is not as shallow as people think when they end up having a wild night of adventure together. It has been done before and pretty sure has been done since "I Love You, Beth Cooper" was released and more importantly has been done better. But "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is not a bad movie just one which doesn't reach the heights it could and should have because it ends up playing it safe.
The thing about "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is that it needed to be riskier, it needed a night of adventure which included more sexual content, not necessary sex but the sort of stuff which is more suggestively sexy rather than just Hayden Panettiere, I mean Beth taking off her graduation gown to reveal a tight top and tighter denim shorts as well as long legs. It also needed to be cruder, not necessary gross out but be willing to amuse by being offensive. But it constantly plays it safe to the point that it feels neutered.
Now that's a shame because "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is well cast with Paul Rust doing a good job of playing much younger than his age and delivering an entertaining high school nerd full of geek awkwardness. On the subject of which Jack T. Carpenter could give Simon Helberg a run for his money when it comes to playing a geek who think they are cool. But of course there is Hayden Panettiere who to be honest makes the movie because on one hand she delivers the hottie but then we have some attitude as she likes to do dangerous things yet she also manages to bring out the characters kindness which is a lot more than you normally get from this sort of movie.
What this all boils down to is that "I Love You, Beth Cooper" is not a bad movie but ends up disappointing because every time it tries to be funny it doesn't take things far enough although still manages to make you smile with what it does deliver.
