Though advertised as a family comedy, Love the Coopers has a sad undertone, which might be too close to home for some. This isn’t to say the film skimps on Christmas corn, which undoes the good work of the dry humour and genuinely tender moments.

The time spent exploring each character arc is unbalanced, costing exposition and development in some cases, while over-indulging others. The film’s screen time could have been used more economically, or even extended to correct these flaws. Its fluid incorporation of flashbacks and visualisations of emotion are a delight, and the family banter is charmingly realistic.

Though the film may hit a nerve for those with a dysfunctional family, it is an easy watch.  Love the Coopers might not be a classic but it is a solid seasonal jaunt.

RATING: 2/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Diane Keaton, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Olivia Wilde, Amanda Seyfried, Ed Helms

DIRECTOR: Jessie Nelson

WRITERS: Steven Rogers

SYNOPSIS: The Coopers are gathering for silly season, but everyone has news they aren’t sharing.

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A year after finishing formal education I started to itch with the need to produce film analysis once more, and thus, found a place here. I love film, I will watch any genre, in any language, but have a particular enjoyment of the beautiful and strange. The first film I watched at the cinema was the Disney Hercules, I got to leave kindergarten early, this became the first sacrifice I happily made for my love of the silverscreen