JIM reviews film "I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER" -- Can a Nerd rehabilitate himself via Public Comments?

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“I LOVE YOU, BETH COOPER” — Can a Nerd rehabilitate himself via Public Comments? =

Rating: 7 of 10 stars (per an advance screening).

This is a mildly charming, generally sweet Chris Columbus film seemingly mainly aimed at a teenage audience (which seemed to “relate” to & enjoy it, according to the audience I was with). Nerdy high school valedictorian Denis (PAUL RUST), urged on by his best friend Rich (JACK CARPENTER), gives a graduation speech in which he makes comments about numerous classmates— calling one stuck-up, one a bully, one gay, & one – Beth Cooper (HAYDEN PANATIERRE) – as being the object of his love. With a hidden agenda (including upsetting her current ROTC boyfriend Kevin – played by SHAWN ROBERTS), Beth & 2 girlfriends (Cammy, played by LAUREN LONDON, & Treece, played by LAUREN STORM) show up at Denis’ grad party. As the girls & guys spend time together, there are the “usual” high-jinks— getting drunk, driving badly, fighting, making out, etc. It’s not especially clever or funny, it’s not very boisterous, but you end up understanding & “pulling” for the “good guys”. The decently-acted film achieves what it sets out to do (namely, make some gentle observations about the difficulties in growing up).