Coopers' Camera

As some of you might know, I write for and orchestrate Ruthless Reviews. O.K., I know, big deal. Sometimes our readers throw us a pearl. This time the pearl bore fruit in the form of this deliciously vulgar but infinitely watchable movie.

The only reasonable way that I can describe this VHS film is the joy that a dog incurs when it eats its own vomit. Yes, it is that good. From the endless mullets to the crazy Family Values, this film separates the wheat from the chaff. You are either all-in for Christmas mockery, or you are not.

Unless you are some sort of hard-core, Born-Again Christmas Freak, you should give yourself a chance to enjoy this movie. Drinking is HIGHLY recommended if you are to fully enjoy this masterpiece.

What a wonderful surprise. Thank you Winston Smith for drawing this to my attention.

Refers to Disney's fort wilderness, it was the campground. The lodge only opened in 1991. So he refers to a very expensive camping stay for 1985. This is the most disturbing movie family.

Although the movie concept was an interesting one, it failed to generate many nostalgic laughs, nor did it remind me very much of the 1985 era, or of my own family Christmas's, thank goodness. The movie's concept is supposed to be that dad wraps up a used VHS video camera for the family Christmas gift that he had to settle taking in lieu of a $2,000 debt owed to him by a shady friend played by Dave Foley who used the video camera to make his amateur porn.

Grandma is played by Jayne Eastwood, and she is just not happy with anything about Christmas other than the hard liquor. Grandpa is deaf as a door nail, and his three daughters do not have much use for him as they are reminded how awful their childhood was with him as their dad.

Jason Jones is the sad sack dad, whose Don Juan smarmy brother played by Peter Klegehan continues to make passes at his sister in law who just happens to be about four months pregnant when coincidentally was the last time the two secretly met. Rounding out the dysfunctional adults is the heavy drinking mullet head brother in law played by Mike Beaver.

So by now you have probably figured out that when you mix a lot of heavy drinking, a dysfunctional family with a few teenage kids who are also a bit warped. and provide them with their first ever video camera, nothing is off limits. In one particular scene dad, played by Jason Jones is sitting on the toilet doing what comes naturally and this is where I thought the movie should have ended......on the bathroom throne.

This is a two star flusher, with a pretty bad smell. Don't waste any more time watching it than you would exert on a good bowel movement.

Relentlessly funny, with scenes that I know I'll never forget, I just can't fault this movie, you tune in not expecting much and it just pummels you from start to end. This is one cult-classic sleeper hit and a whole new xmas movie tradition.

And I just have to rave over the 'piney-puke' scene, and you will too, but that had to be some story gag that never found a good home till now, because it's simply priceless...

And to Jason Jones and Mike Beaver, please, please, please, walk away, never even think 'sequel', it can't be done, and on the other hand, I so hope to see more from you guys... bravo to cast and crew,

The Cooper family (Jason Jones and Samantha Bee) accepted a video camera in 1985 in exchange for $2000 a friend (Dave Foley) needed to pay off a debt. They filmed the festivities, and 25 years later the tapes have been unveiled.

This film works off a few familiar premises... the found footage of "Blair Witch" or "Cloverfield", mixed with the humor of returning to the 1980s, as with "Wedding Singer" or "Hot Tub Time Machine". Perhaps, miraculously, Jones (both star and writer) seems to not repeat jokes already in the other films.

Crimped hair, New Coke, and more Star Was references than in any other film I've ever seen... and I've seen a lot of Star Wars references. I think this will appeal to a wide variety of people, both geeks and nerds, but also those who may want to relive the 1980s or see Dave Foley's bare behind.

There's a really great running joke about Viagra, where they ask, who would ever go to the doctor to get their penis to work? It's funny because it's probably true: what seemed outlandish in 1985 today seems common: male enhancement is constantly being advertised and I suspect is widely used.