The Second Coming of John Cooper (2026)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

John Cooper (Lane Compton) is a washed-up actor, a has-been. He’s the celebrity you read about in the news and think “How the fuck did he go bankrupt?”. The Second Coming of John Cooper sees the titular character attempting to right the ship of his life, get back on the horse, and reach stardom once more. The only problem is, he’s a fucking idiot. 

The Second Coming of John Cooper blends fact and fiction, using actual actors (Rob Corddry, Brian Posehn, and more) playing themselves. With a connection to reality, The Second Coming of John Cooper, a film complete with idiocracy and asinine whimsy finds a way to become [slightly] grounded. The film isn’t necessarily steeped in emotional highs and lows—but Writer-Director Kevin Kraft is able to craft something familiar enough that it has the potential to appeal to viewers. 

Back in 2023 a film called Bootyology was released. It followed a presumed-dead hip-hop duo as they attempted to reinsert themselves into the pop culture zeitgeist. I adored this film; I was mesmerized by the music and the comedic chops of all involved. The Second Coming of John Cooper is, in many ways, a spitting image of Bootyology. It’s derivative in many ways—employing similar comedic devices, a familiar plot structure, and a narrative core that is identical in more ways than one. That’s not to say that The Second Coming of John Cooper isn’t its own product, but the similarities are uncanny and impossible to overlook.

There’s a stagnancy present in The Second Coming of John Cooper, one that permeates nearly the entirety of the film. On one hand that works for the film, mirroring the stagnancy of John’s existence and the struggle that he faces as he attempts to become a household name once more. On the flip side, however, The Second Coming of John Cooper suffers from its inability to move forward at an effective rate. Viewers feel confined to a singular location for far too long—and this not only produces a sense of boredom, but pulls viewers out of the film altogether. 

What does work for The Second Coming of John Cooper is the metaphor for modern lethargy and the current generation’s obsession with fame and an easy buck. The parallels between modern day society and John Cooper are unmistakable, and by no means an accident. The insight that Kraft provides is a breath of fresh air in this otherwise hyperbolic comedy. This is the one aspect that manages to keep the film truly grounded and [mildly] accessible—and it also works as a segue into the final segment of the film where emotion becomes a genuine focus for the first time. 

A wonky comedy, The Second Coming of John Cooper fails to reel viewers in and keep them intrigued as a result of the comedy that feels ineffective. Overall, The Second Coming of John Cooper is a case of ‘been there, seen that,” and that greatly hinders the film’s ability to resonate with viewers. Again, its saving grace is the grounded symbolism that often rings true throughout the course of the film—but that still often manages to be overshadowed by the film’s shortcomings. 

Written & Directed by Kevin Kraft. 

Starring Lane Compton, Trevor Goober, Ilana Kohanchi, Dustin Ybarra, Rob Corddry, Brian Posehn, etc. 

5.5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED