Love the Coopers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A dog narrates the story of a family pretending to be happy at Christmas while everyone has secrets, and also someone shoplifts.

🍿 Love the Coopers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Scene: The Cooper Family Dynamics

The film introduces the Cooper family as they prepare for their annual Christmas Eve gathering. Charlotte and Sam, the parents, are secretly planning to separate after 40 years of marriage but want to keep it a secret until after Christmas. This sets a bittersweet tone as they try to maintain a facade of normalcy for their family. We quickly learn about each family member and their own struggles.

Eleanor and Joe: An Unexpected Connection

Eleanor, Charlotte and Sam’s daughter, dreads going home for Christmas because of her mother’s judgment about her being single. At the airport, she meets Joe, a soldier on leave, and impulsively asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend for the holidays. Their connection is immediate, but also complex, as they challenge each other’s perspectives on life and love.

Hank’s Struggles and Charlie’s First Crush

Hank, the son, is recently divorced and unemployed, a fact he’s hiding from his children. He’s desperately trying to make Christmas special for them, despite his own financial difficulties. Meanwhile, his son Charlie is focused on his first crush, navigating the awkwardness of teenage romance during the festive season. These storylines add a layer of generational challenges to the family dynamics.

Emma and Officer Williams: An Unlikely Bond

Charlotte’s sister, Emma, is arrested for shoplifting a gift for Charlotte, fueled by years of feeling overshadowed. In the police car, she forms an unexpected bond with Officer Williams, sharing their personal vulnerabilities and finding solace in their shared loneliness. This subplot explores themes of sibling rivalry and unexpected connections.

Bucky and Ruby: A Platonic Friendship

Bucky, Charlotte’s father, finds companionship in Ruby, a waitress at his favorite diner. He’s devastated to learn she’s leaving town, as their platonic friendship provides him with much-needed connection and purpose. Their relationship highlights the importance of intergenerational friendships and finding meaning in unexpected places.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Charlotte Cooper (Diane Keaton): The matriarch of the Cooper family, trying to hold onto a perfect Christmas despite her impending divorce.
• Sam Cooper (John Goodman): Charlotte’s husband of 40 years, ready to end their marriage but agreeing to one last Christmas celebration.
• Eleanor (Olivia Wilde): Charlotte and Sam’s cynical daughter who brings a stranger home for Christmas to avoid family judgment.
• Bucky (Alan Arkin): Charlotte’s lonely father who finds companionship in a diner waitress.
• Emma (Marisa Tomei): Charlotte’s younger sister who shoplifts a gift and has a revealing conversation with a police officer.
• Hank (Ed Helms): Charlotte and Sam’s recently divorced son who is secretly unemployed during the holidays.
• Rags (Steve Martin): The Cooper family dog who narrates the intertwined stories with a unique perspective.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Bucky: “That feeling like you’ve landed in the wrong life. Everybody feels that way.” – Bucky shares this sentiment with Ruby, reflecting on feelings of displacement and searching for meaning.
• Rags (voice): “Families, you can’t live with them, and you can’t bury them in the backyard no matter how tempting it is.” – As the narrator, Rags delivers this humorous line, highlighting the complexities and frustrations of family relationships.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $17,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $26,302,731
• Worldwide Gross: $42,426,912

💥 Love the Coopers Reviews

Personal Review

I watched ‘Christmas with the Coopers’ expecting a lighthearted holiday film, but it was surprisingly heavy. The all-star cast couldn’t save the disjointed storylines, and I found myself more depressed than festive. I did enjoy Alan Arkin’s scenes at the diner, though, and the dog’s narration was a nice touch. But, overall, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a truly joyous Christmas movie. It’s more like a ‘dysfunctional family therapy session’ set during the holidays.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of ensemble cast movies”
  • “Viewers who appreciate dramedies about family dynamics”
  • “Those seeking a holiday film with a mix of humor and heart”
  • “People who enjoy movies with well-known actors and actresses”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some mature themes including marital problems and infidelity”
  • “Mild language”
  • “Brief scenes depicting emotional distress”
  • “Suggestive content”

Professional Reviews

• ScreenRant: “Despite an ensemble cast, ‘Christmas with the Coopers’ leans heavily on cliché and struggles to balance multiple storylines, resulting in a sentimental but ultimately unmemorable holiday film experience. While the performances are decent, the over-reliance on narration and predictable plot points detract from any genuine emotional impact.
• IMDB: “Avoid! A waste of a great cast. Nothing is funny or entertaining in this film and many scenes and subplots have little or nothing to do with pushing the story along. There is nothing to love about the Coopers but the dog!
• IMDB: “A movie that is often misunderstood, ‘Christmas with the Coopers’ is actually a movie of reflection on life and the sad realization that life moves on and we don’t appreciate it until it’s too late. A feel good ‘alternative’ Christmas movie.

Audience Reactions

Viewers appreciated the film’s attempt to portray realistic family dynamics during the holidays.: Many praised the cast’s performances, despite finding the plot itself to be somewhat disjointed and depressing.

Overall Consensus: ‘Christmas with the Coopers’ is a mixed bag, with a strong cast but a weak and disjointed plot that fails to deliver a truly heartwarming holiday experience. Some appreciate its realistic portrayal of family dysfunction, while others find it depressing and unfunny.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, utilizing locations like the Pittsburgh Crèche and PPG Place to enhance the Christmas atmosphere.”
• “Steve Martin provides the voice of the family dog, Rags, who serves as the narrator throughout the film, offering a unique perspective on the Cooper family’s dynamics.”

🖥️ How to Watch Love the Coopers?

Christmas with the Coopers, also known as Love the Coopers, is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it on demand through services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, where you may have the option to rent or buy the movie. Check your local cable provider for on-demand options. For physical copies, major retailers like Amazon and Walmart offer the DVD and Blu-ray.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Love the Coopers, you might like these similar films:

• The Family Stone (2005): Both movies focus on a dysfunctional family gathering for the holidays, dealing with individual dramas and relationship tensions.
• Christmas Vacation (1989): Captures the chaotic and humorous side of family holiday gatherings with relatable mishaps and quirky characters.
• Four Christmases (2008): A couple struggles to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day, highlighting the challenges of modern family dynamics.

🛒 Love the Coopers Related Products

• Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie Collection: A digital collection filled with feel-good festive stories to give those warm-hearted, familiar holiday movie vibes. If you enjoy Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, you’ll be certain to love a movie night featuring these digital collections!
• Christmas Family Pajamas Matching Sets: Get the whole family in the Christmas spirit with these comfy matching pajama sets! Features a variety of festive designs perfect for cozy nights in and holiday photos to remember the joy that Christmas brings for years to come!
• Christmas Cookie Cutters Set, Holiday Baking Supplies: Elevate your Christmas family fun with this diverse cookie cutter set. A perfect way to keep the little ones excited while baking up a storm of holiday memories.
• Hallmark Keepsake Ornament, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Cousin Eddie in The RV Ornament: Hallmark Keepsake ornaments celebrate your favorite holiday movies with artistic design that is meticulously detailed. This figurine of the RV is a fun reminder of our holiday traditions, like watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

🎧 Soundtrack

Love the Coopers features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “White Winter Hymnal” – performed by Fleet Foxes
• “Girl From The North Country” – performed by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Love The Coopers: Timothee Chalamet “Charlie” Behind-the-Scenes Interview | ScreenSlam

Ever wondered what it’s like for a young actor to join such a star-studded cast? Check out Timothée Chalamet’s behind-the-scenes interview for ‘Love the Coopers’ – his perspective is so insightful!

Timothee Chalamet in Love The Coopers (3of3)

Want to see Timothée Chalamet in action in ‘Love the Coopers’? This clip offers a peek at his scenes, and honestly, he’s such a natural, even back then!

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