On the cover of this cheaply made and corny looking DVD it reads, “Jim Carrey in one of his first and funniest films running riot on the Colorado ski slopes.”
First off, this is not even a properly structured sentence! This poorly written quote pretty much foreshadows the quality of the film.
Secondly, this quote does not come from any accredited critic or columnist; it is basically just a bias opinion from one of the filmmakers that is not even close to being accurate. To compare Copper Mountain in terms of comedic value to any other of Carrey’s films is an absolute joke. The only thing that can be remotely considered laughable here is Carrey’s countless impressions. Even at that, these impressions usually don’t cause side-splitting laughter; they normally just result in jaw-dropping awe depending on how precise they are.
Thirdly, by no means is this experience a running riot; it’s more like rotting disarray. Copper Mountain is a sixty-minute pointless picture that contains way too much music and way too little to like. It is so absurd that even calling it a movie is a compliment.
Bobby Todd (Jim Carrey) and Jackson Reach (Alan Thicke) are two young guys looking for a good time. Bobby is your stereotypical loser who constantly has trouble with women, and wherever he goes he can’t seem to catch a break. Jackson, on the other hand, is a slick overconfident skier who is looking to someday go pro on the slopes. For a weekend getaway, these two friends travel to the Club Med ski-resort in Colorado. There, Jackson hopes to earn a spot in the Pro-Am skiing competition, while Bobby just hopes to approach a lady and not have her run away in fear. Both Bobby and Jackson hope to score big on and off the slopes during their life-altering experience at Club Med.
Sadly, this film does not score on any level, nor is it life-altering in any way. The picture quality is so poor, fuzzy, and unclear that it is even hard to make out distinct facial features. The camera angles are beyond bad and the acting is equally objectionable. Also, the balance of volume between the dialogue and the soundtrack is absolutely atrocious. Copper Mountain is one of those painstaking endeavors where you need to turn the sound up when the characters are speaking, and then turn it down once the music starts blaring. Believe me, by the end of the picture your thumb will most likely acquire a cramp. This film contains about thirty minutes of sporadic dialogue, while the other half of the running time is really just the loud, obnoxious full-length tunes of Rompin’ Ronnie Hawkins and friends.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Ouch!
2 - Jeff Blake
Tis true, this movie is not worth the dvd/vhs it was recorded on. The only amuusing parts is Jim Carrey's impressions, which you could just as easily find in some of his old stand up comedy tapes. I didn't really dig the soundtrack either. Altogether, this was a difficult to watch film, and it wasn't because of some life changing or thought provoking footage. The only thought that provokes the viewer really, is: Why am I watching this?
3 - Ben
ANybody know the name of the intro song
That starts "I know a place on the other side" and mentions COlorado
4 - Ryan WIll
I loved this movie...I would have paid full dvd price to own a copy and think others should do the same. Carrey is amazing and the scenery and songs are as well.
5 - David Jay
My friend and i borrowed this movie a few weeks ago, took it back to my place and watched about 30 minutes of it then turned it off. My friend went back to the video store, demanded his money back and cancelled his membership. This movie is utter sewage! There is no story, theres no script, and the acting is appalling. I would gladly compare this movie to hot, moist cow *****!!! I can't believe that a movie company would approve of this! On the positive side if you want to clear your house of unwanted guests then put this on. I have never felt such an urge to commit suicide after watching this film.
6 - Sebastian
"Copper Mountain is the absolute epitome of cinematic sewage" couldn't have said it better myself. 0 out of 5
7 - Tony
This movie is wrong...soo wrong
8 - Zarko Acimovic
I disagree in any way with you Brandon. This is one of the best movies I have seen lately. It's composed out of several stories that mix up in perfect "melange a trois". I loved Hawkins, and I definitely loved Rita and Jim also. This movie promotes all the good sides of American lifestyle. One of the best scenes I saw lately, when Jean Claude Killy goes down the hill, and Rita's song in back - I mean - give me a break - that is good America
9 - Brandon Valentine
Zarko I am glad you found a movie that you love. However, I am not sure how casual skiing, loud winter gear, and Ronnie Hawkins defines American lifestyle. What else have you watched lately to compare this piece of raw sewage to?
10 - Zarko Acimovic
I do admit I have strange taste for movies, I like 12 Monkeys, Fightclub and Copper Mountains at the same time :-))) but this movie is not just skiing... you have two guys, one is doing great with his business and the other is still searching for himself, and still... they are friends, no matter what - I can't remember any movie promoting such friendship !!! And then Rita with those glasses - she's really hot ! And then Jim Carey and his feminine side of personality :-) I just like the spirit of friendship and good mood that comes out through every scene of this movie
11 - Zarko Acimovic
My point of view was strictly subjective in my previous comments - was able to find a lot of reasons why I LIKE this movie. Also my position is not rational one, but emotional. Brandon's point of view is objective and my comments can't really match his. So let me try to change my position to become a rational one. Let's compare Martin Scorsese's Departed movie picture with Copper Mountains. Departed has a STORY that locks you in to the movie, have to be concentrated and focused to each dialog in the movie to stay tuned. The movie is overwhelming and irreversible. Copper Mountains is made of fragments. There is more pluralism and 'democracy' in it. Several stories intertwine in an easy rhythm to become a funny homage to American lifestyle. The movie is not overwhelmed by the story. The narration is not total, we still have "movie pictures", we still have a picture as a mean to say something (incredible Jean Claude Killy, as an example). Also the very story is cut by the Hawkins' and Rita's performance, which completely changes the rhythm of the movie. I re-played the parts with the music lots of times, so I would dare to say that move is reversible and not singular one.