Coffee Date (2006) User Reviews

A gay movie about a straight man

[paulbakalite · 6/10 · 8 December 2007]

This film is so nearly there. There are more than one or two genuinely heart rending moments in it. There are several characters of almost three dimensions. A little more work and it could have been all the things it almost is - subtle, touching and funny. It's just slightly amateur. Not much, but enough to take the edge off what it could have been. TLA Releasing seem to put out a fair number of movies a bit like this. Sweet tales of modern gay life. Gay movies you want to love, that sometimes bring a tear (just the one) to the eye and have you laughing (a couple of times), but that don't quite cut deep enough to make them memorable or watchable twice. This coffee-date does have charm and looks, but he lacks substantial charisma.

(There is also a technical problem with Coffee Date; the sound mixing is all over the place. One minute the background is high and the dialogue low, then an angle changes and it's all different again. This is a pretty basic requirement these days, decent sound design and mixing).

This not-so-gay romantic comedy falls a little flat

[FrankSerio · 7/10 · 19 February 2010]

I won't presume to apply logic to the plot of this cute film - all of the characters are a little larger than life and the situations a bit contrived. I do, however, expect a fluffy little romantic comedy to stay true to its genre. When you begin your romantic comedy with a classic meet-cute and spend the first three quarters of the movie watching these two characters grow closer and closer despite themselves, the audience is completely justified in being miffed when they don't end up together. It really felt like a cop out designed to reassure all the straight guys who got dragged to the movie that they didn't have to worry that enjoying it would make them gay.

That said, I really enjoyed the first three quarters of the movie, and at least the ending is upbeat. The two leads are charming and likable. The supporting cast is excellent. I had many laugh out loud moments.

Extra sweetener but with room (for substance)

[Coralknight · 5/10 · 14 November 2017]

There seems to be a nice niche market going for high production value gay themed comedy scripts, which also manage to attract one or two relatively known/good named actors. "Coffee Date" definitely fits this genre, and we are treated to Wilson Cruz playing his "butch" but vulnerable character. However, the script is also high on camp (almost mandatory) and not a lot of substance or thought-provoking value, since we really have to suspend our disbelief on a few occasions here. There is also a tendency for at least one "over the top" actor (the "Karen" of the group if you will) in this case played by the protagonist's mother. But it's a "fun", so if you're looking for some brain-candy for a date or just a movie-night with gay friends, this should do it.

How Straight is Straight ?

[jromanbaker · 6/10 · 19 February 2023]

How straight is straight sexually and emotionally ? Or To be or not to be ? After a viewing this rather distant in the past film of sexual ambiguity I was left with a feeling that I had watched a semi-comic film that had rather shaky answers to both of these questions. Jonathan Bray plays the straight man who accidentally meets up with a gay man on a blind date called Kelly. Bray thinks he is going to meet a woman, and finds to his gay panic that he has landed himself on the wrong side of his sexual orientation. Panic subsides when he realises he likes the man, and for most of the duration of the film he verbally fights off anyone who comes to the conclusion that he is gay and not straight. Witty lines flow quite nicely, and the film has a lot of smiles and laughs to offer and the acting was mostly good. I wondered at the beginning if mister straight was gay after all and I will give no spoilers except to say that rather heavy handed signals in the dialogue led to a rather obvious conclusion. A twist at the end concerning mister straight man's brother came as a surprise, if a rather a stereotypical one. In fact there are quite a few stereotypes of gay men in this film and to a certain extent I thought mister straight was rather condescendingly nice to them. Two scenes I rather liked. The inevitable shower scene so often used in gay films is shown before the film even starts, and it is mister straight under the shower looking the perfect dream of sexual desire. This will throw some viewers off course as he is handsome and imaginatively for the viewer ' available,' and the second scene is a rather nasty homophobic attack that undermines the comic premise in the film that most people are gay friendly. I quite enjoyed my own accidental viewing of this gay film of the past, but came away with the feeling that a sequel to the film may have added something more, and something better for the satisfaction of a lot of gay viewers.

A Twisted Plot with unexpected ending

[tunlintp · 7/10 · 14 January 2018]

This film will not be too much of an attraction to a straight guy (because I have no idea how their mind works) but it sure captured my attention from the very first scene until the end. There may be a few occasions that are too good to be true or unrealistically light-weight along the way but overall it will surely capture you too if you are gay or into gay films. There is one particular thing that makes this film stand out is the ending or shall I say 'the closure'. It does not end the way a conventional gay film ends and which makes it more appealing. "Coffee Date" really made my day.

A Light Confection: Sugary Sweet With No Substance

[cfbrown77 · 4/10 · 18 May 2010]

If you have a couple of free hours on a lazy afternoon and you are not looking for anything too challenging to fill them, you might try watching this low-budget comedy on cable. It certainly wouldn't be the worst way to spend your time, but the problem with this little film is that it certainly wouldn't be the best way to spend your time either. Jonathan Bray and Wilson Cruz are certainly competent actors who play likable and attractive leads who meet-cute in the setup for this sweet and goofy comedy of errors. Along the way, the film even manages to achieve a couple of touching moments and a few small laughs. Nonetheless, the story suffers by the screenwriter taking a premise best suited to a movie short and stretching it thin to fill a feature length film. The film piles improbability upon improbability to keep the plot trudging forward and it throws in tired clichés and cheap laughs as a poor substitute for genuine wit and sophisticated character development. The sincere effort of the two lead actors keeps the whole flimsy story together for most of the film, but eventually even their strong acting skills can no longer compensate for the ridiculous plot developments and trite dialog.

Go on this Coffee Date!

[eslgr8 · 10/10 · 22 July 2006]

First of all, get this straight (no pun intended). Coffee Date is NOT a movie about yet another gay man hopelessly in love with a straight man (not that there's anything wrong with that--Who hasn't been there, done that--and maybe more than once?) What Coffee Date is is a deliciously funny and frequently touching comedic examination of the nature of friendship and love and sexual orientation with some of the best writing/performances in indie gay cinema in recent memory.

Coffee Date started as a 17 minute short (the first 17 minutes of the feature) about an Internet blind date that goes unexpectedly and disastrously wrong (as a date) but ends up being the meet cute beginning of a beautiful friendship. Writer/Director Stewart Wade has done the seemingly impossible by expanding his short into a feature, and moving the friendship between Todd and Kelly in many different (and mostly unpredictable) directions, involving Kelly's fag hag best friend/roommate and Todd's slacker brother, with a surprise of his own to reveal, as well as hilarious appearances by Todd's oh so supportive mother, Todd's there's-not-a-gay-man-I-can't-seduce coworker Melissa, and a host of others.

This comedy of errors would end as soon as it started if only Todd's family and friend's would listen to him when he tells them he's straight. But of course, being a movie, they never do, and his life as a "gay" man keeps getting crazier and crazier. Meanwhile, Kelly must cope with the reality that when love for a soul mate of a best friend is combined with physical attraction, someone is going to get hurt...

No more plot revelations here, so as not to move into the realm of spoilers, but plenty of praise for all concerned.

As previously stated, Stewart Wade is an upcoming talent to be reckoned with. A+ for his writing/directing. He's got a lot more wonderful films in him!

A+ also to Stewart for casting the wonderful Wilson Cruz, openly gay in his career since his teenage days on My So Called Life, in the starring role of Kelly (of the unisex name). Not only does Stewart give Wilson the big fat leading role he so richly deserves, but he has the guts (and the wisdom) to realize that no, unlike Brokeback Mountain, this film just wouldn't work if a straight actor were playing Kelly. Wilson is sexy and funny, and superb at the more dramatic moments. He gives the performance of his career so far.

In the same vein, kudos to Stewart for discovering Jonathan Bray. At the Outfest Q&A, Stewart said that Jonathan was his immediate choice for the role the role of Todd from his first audition. Here is an actor comfortable enough in his own heterosexuality to explore a straight man's possible attraction to another man, at some level, maybe even physical. He's a leading man in the Tom Hanks/Jack Lemmon vein--good enough looking to play the lead but enough of an Everyman to inspire immediate audience empathy.

Other wonderful performances: Elaine Hendrix and Jonathan Silverman: Two underrated and underused comedic talents who steal every scene they're in. Both of these actors so disappear into their roles that someone having seen them in something else might not recognize them at first. (I didn't know it was Silverman till the end credits.) Sally Kirkland as Mom. Sometime a little of Sally can go a long way, but here she absolutely marvelous as the PFLAG mother every gay son wishes he had, unless he were really straight. Deborah Gibson (here's one teen idol who's proved she's got legs--18 years after her debut and she's still showing new sides of her talent.) Her end credits song is the icing on the cake of this lovely film, and if she were still in her heyday, it would be a huge hit. In fact, if there's justice in the music world, it still will be! Jason Stewart: Another out gay comedic talent, who is funny in everything he does including his role in Coffee Date as Todd's gay work colleague. And finally, Stewart Wade proves himself a real mensch for writing roles in Coffee Date: The Movie for the original stars of the Coffee Date: The Short (Thomas Saunders and Peter Bedard).

When I saw this film at the Showcase Theater (Outfest 2006), the theater's projection system was apparently not equipped to show the film in its correct aspect ratio. But Coffee Date proved itself strong enough to stand up to having everyone in it stretched out to slight chubbiness. I look forward to seeing it again with properly proportioned actors! This is one I'll be standing in line for when it (surely) gets its theatrical release and one I will surely be adding to my DVD collection.

Another failed gay comedy, this one with tacky stereotypes

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 15 October 2007]

A frightened-seeming heterosexual in his mid-30s and an eye-rolling gay salon owner "meet cute" and, despite their differences, become movie buddies; still, everyone close to the straight guy misinterprets this friendship as an intimate relationship, causing him to question his own sexual preference. Simplistic, unamusing comedy of misunderstandings, with overdrawn, 'kooky' supporting characters and a basic lack of verisimilitude in the leading ones. Strictly as a superficial light entertainment, this low-budget film is relatively harmless and friendly enough; dig deeper however and it's really rather offensive--both to straight and gay audiences. Jonathan Bray's Todd, with his perpetually astonished expression, is like a walking loaf of white bread, complete with uptight clothes and a clenched jaw; neither sex could loosen this man up...and neither sex would take the time to. *1/2 from ****

Enjoyable Date

[missmistyeyez · 8/10 · 5 December 2006]

Go see this movie you will most definitely be entertained by this realistic comedy. However more importantly it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight you will be able to relate to their pain on many levels. First off, most all of us have been miss labeled for being something we are not, at least once or twice. Better yet, maybe you have fallen for a straight guy, and let your feelings go haywire even though you know he is not capable of returning the affection. If not, I know we have all had a blind date or met someone off the Internet, and often times our date might not have been quite what we are expecting. Relating to one or all of these plot lines will make this journey truly enjoyable for you.

Yes this is a gay feature film and like most gay films, they are independently made and done so with a low budget. Yet as a member of the Gay and Lesbian community we are going to go and see this film and support the continuations of Gay and Lesbian Movies. That being said you can now go into the movie realizing it is a spectacular film even though there are no shiny sets and no blockbuster special effects, thus allowing you to focus on the plot and the storyline from the writer/director Stewart Wade. Granted plot is somewhat superficial or shallow (lacking any real or true depth,) yet there are some seriously funny one liners, with many truly touching moments, and several seriously unmanageable situations that lead to the characters struggle with their identities and deals with what makes them who they are. Todd (Jonathan Bray) plays a straight guy who meets Kelly (Wilson Cruz openly gay actor) off the Internet not realizing he is a male the meet for a coffee date that changes his life. Once they have overcome the uncomfortable, awkwardness they realize they do have some in common and become friends. Thus leading to the comedy of errors, and his miss labeled identity, for now everyone Todd knows thinks he is gay, so much that he to begins to question it.

There was a surprise cameo from Deborah Gibson (80's pop star) who plays Melissa the temptress co-worker who thinks that she can seduce all gay men.

This film is a hilarious journey full of many belly laughs, yet its a trip that may lead you to a few moments where you may get a bit Misty Eyed. Either way you will be glad that you went on this Coffee Date.

PS - I suggests that if you know someone that might be questioning their sexuality, you should bring them for the ride. Also a great date movie.

PSS - Spoiler --

I think that being the plot decided to make Todd straight in the end even after having relations with a man makes this a much better film. It kept it real, and genuine. I am glad he steered clear of the cliché Turned Gay Story line.

Awkward Coffee Date a Strange Brew

[Lauren_Simpson · 4/10 · 13 April 2007]

There's something admirable about the low-budget comedy "Coffee Date" and the questions it's willing to ask about sexual identity. Indie writer-director Stewart Wade, who explored the issues in two previous shorts, delves back into the realm of hetero-homo angst, this time in feature length format by taking an look at what would happen to a straight man if everyone around him decided he was gay.

Todd (Jonathan Bray) is the straight man in question: a poster child for retired frat boys aspiring to modern yuppie-dom. Nevertheless, in search of something more "substantial" than the endless string of one-night stands, he goes on a blind date arranged by his brother Barry (Jonathan Silverman). He's surprised to find that his date, Kelly, is actually a man (Wilson Cruz of "My So-Called Life" fame) and even more surprised to learn that they have a lot in common, despite differing sexual orientations.

It's a typically platonic meet-and-greet until Todd, in an inane attempt at retaliation, plays an unlikely joke on Barry by pretending that he slept with his new gay buddy. The ripple effect is one that Todd could never have predicted. His mother's one-woman gay pride parade, coupled with his co-workers' belief that he couldn't be anything but homosexual, leads him to question whether their instincts could be right - and his wrong. Meanwhile, Kelly grapples with his fond feelings toward the straight guy.

The situation is interesting in its potential plausibility; after all, even the most self-secure heterosexuals are likely to doubt themselves in a climate of overwhelming disbelief. Nevertheless, "Coffee Date" is a film that stumbles tactlessly into all the uncomfortable cringe-inducing traps inherent to its premise. Archaic, hackneyed notions of both homosexual and heterosexual behavior masquerade as comedy, rendering the real laughs few and far between.

For one thing, it isn't all that funny that a man would wipe his palm on his shirt after shaking hands with his presumed-to-be-gay brother. Just as unfunny is the stereotypical "heterosexual panic attack" modeled by Todd when he goes into the bathroom at a gay and lesbian café and is joined by a man at the next urinal. And while we're talking about stereotypes, does every gay man really worship the likes of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand? "She is the world's greatest living singer and criminally underrated as a director," raves Kelly as Todd eyes a framed poster of Babs. According to "Coffee Date," the answer is yes.

But in terms of answering the most loaded question of all: Can a straight man be friends with a gay man without succumbing to Brokeback Syndrome? "Coffee Date" makes the biggest mistake of all. It fakes left and unnecessarily goes right. "I can have friends that I don't sleep with," says Kelly in an early scene. The film's final verdict leaves one thing clear: If straight guys see this movie with their homosexual friends, it's going to be an awkward walk home.

Copyright (c) 2007 by Lauren Simpson

Puts the Type in Stereotype

[Franco-LA · 2/10 · 2 February 2008]

As someone else wrote, Jonathan Bray is that rare straight man who doesn't scream and point at the first sign of a homosexual -- while not a metro sexual (with that hair and those clothes, please?). And Wilson Crus is that rare homosexual who is natural and masculine without being self-loathing and falls for the first man he meets that he can't have - just because they share a love of movies. It could happen!

So, if you read this far, you can see I'm being sarcastic and ironic. This movie is stuffed with clichés, from the understanding mother who wants to be supportive to the gay son who was always under her nose but she didn't know she have while she ignores and belittles the gay son she apparently has, that was never under her nose, but because the movie needs a twist, comes out for no real or apparent reason by the end of the movie. The other standard issue clichés are the straight woman who think she's a seductive temptress able to turn a gay man into a real man with a single roll in the hay; the sweet, wise, helpful but inoffensive and non- sexual gay man in the office everyone turns to in their time of need (think anyone of the Queer Eye guys rolled into one big mess), and the list just goes on and on.

This was a potentially intriguing idea that made a fairly decent, if low-budget set of shorts. Padding it out as a comedy of errors (especially an unlikely and hard to believe one that everyone would openly accept a formerly straight man newly gay) was the writer/directors huge mistake and one that could have been readily rectified with some work and talent behind the project.

This is actually not quite a 2, but not really a 3 either, more like 2.5 stars.

Just How I Like My Coffee...Sweet, Hot and Just A Little Nutty...

[cchase · 8/10 · 24 October 2008]

In spite of the fact that a lot of the low-budget seams are showing here, COFFEE DATE is not yet another vapid gay film filled with airheaded twinks or equally vapid muscleboys whose problems pretty much run the gamut between sex, drugs, sex, money, sex, clothes and...did I mention sex? Not only that, but this little B-level indie has the audacity to ask That Question - the one that always seems to tie everybody's Calvins in a knot: If a straight man sleeps with a gay man, does that mean he's still straight? And if a gay man does the same with a woman, does that make him gay?

It begins as a prank: Todd (Jonathan Bray) is the victim and his uber-slacker brother, Barry (Jonathan Silverman) the instigator. The fastidious Todd decides to go on a coffee date pre-arranged by his slobby sibling, who makes Walter Matthau in THE ODD COUPLE look like Martha Stewart. Of course, Todd should know better, but if he did, this would be a real short movie. All that he knows is that he's going to a coffee shop to meet his mystery date, someone named "Kelly". I guess you can see this coming from ten miles off. Todd has no idea that Barry set the date up on a gay dating site, the coffee shop in question is located in WeHo, and "Kelly" just happens to be the VERY-out owner of a hair salon and spa in the neighborhood.

Anyway, the already more-than-semi-neurotic Todd meets Kelly (a very hunky Wilson Cruz, one of the best openly gay actors working these days), and is about ready to run for the hills, except that Kelly is...not that bad. He's funny, attractive, and shares Todd's interest in movies, among other things. And so a friendship begins to blossom.

Where the frappaccino hits the fan is when Todd decides, as a way to get back at his idiot brother, to pretend that the date with Kelly went well...VERY well. Kelly, amused by the idea, decides to play along. Barry takes the bait and Todd and Kelly get a few laughs from his reaction. But soon the joke is on Todd, as suddenly he realizes that Barry doesn't think he's kidding...he thinks that Todd really has come out! But things don't stop there. Suddenly, Mom (Sally Kirkland) is involved. And then the neighbors. And then people at the office where Todd works. And then...well, let's just say that everyone becomes so convinced that Todd and Kelly are an 'item', that even poor Todd himself isn't so sure anymore about his sexual background. And soon, there's only one way for him to find out the truth...

Jonathan Bray is perfect for the role of Todd. He's neurotic, but adorable - like Woody Allen with a much better body and a lot less of the tics. Which is perfect, because it wouldn't be very convincing to have a Brad Pitt-type questioning himself the way that Todd eventually does. And Wilson Cruz is completely believable, giving a great performance that only carries a touch of camp, as opposed to other actors who would've ridden this all the way into Cliché-land. Plus, Wilson's Kelly is the kind of guy you could easily see a guy OR girl falling for.

Sally Kirkland and Jonathan Silverman are two actors best served in small doses. While there's just enough of him here, there might have been a tad too much Sally. Legendary status and all aside, I just don't think she was up to the challenge of exploring the more nuanced sides of Mrs. Muller, Todd and Barry's mom. (For that, you'd need someone like an Ellen Burstyn or a Judith Light, but I'm sure they were well above the price range this budget had to offer.)

The blink-and-you'll-miss-her cameo by Leigh Taylor-Young as Todd's boss was great, but I wish there had been more. And while I enjoyed seeing Deborah (aka Debbie) Gibson in a role that's a pretty nice stretch for her as a predatory co-worker of Todd's, the underrated Lisa Ann Walter only gets a few lines as a soused gal-pal. (Is there no justice?)

Jason Stuart and Elaine Hendrix were outstanding in roles that appear to be stereotypes, (as Todd's office friend and Kelly's roommate, respectively), but turn into something completely different. And it was so great of director Stewart Wade to write in parts for even Jon Bray's wife (who must be the most understanding and supportive woman of the year!) and the two actors who starred in the original 'Coffee Date" short from which the feature came.

Though there are technical and editing problems here and there, those are minor quibbles, especially when there are so many mainstream gay 'dramedys' that won't even touch the subject of the fluidity of human sexuality. Are we really the people we think we are, or are we who we are because we try to live up to everyone else's expectations of who we should be? I would've liked to have seen more delving into this aspect, but it would've taken a more serious movie with a longer running time, a bigger budget and a sensibility more substantial than just being passed off as "light entertainment."

But for what it is, COFFEE DATE is definitely worth discussion afterward, over your own favorite cuppa Joe. Or Steve. Or Mike. Or...

Expecting a woman

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 18 July 2014]

Although Coffee Date got a little too weird for me it does have a definite amusement value. I'm so jealous of Jonathan Bray because I have a brother and he never fixed me up with Wilson Cruz whom I actually met many years ago.

Jonathan Silverman who is Bray's brother fixes up Bray with a computer date whom he has to meet in one of those Starbucks type coffee houses. It's with someone named Kelly. Expecting a woman Kelly turns out to be Wilson Cruz. Bray then spends the rest of the film first denying he's gay and then trying it on for size.

Before the film is over a whole lot of people wind up doing a lot of soul searching and genders are bent to a considerable degree. I won't say more, but it gets too weird and coincidental for me.

But with Wilson Cruz's presence, that's always a plus sign.

What A Refreshing Little Film

[cshine · 9/10 · 19 December 2007]

I just loved "COFFEE DATE" , It makes me what to grab a cup, just kidding. Its nice to see that an independent feature can look great, be well acted and be enjoyable to watch. Child star Wilson Cruz makes a great transition from awkward teenager to sexy leading man with actress Elaine Hendrix as the surprise favorite "hag" to Wilson's character. Stewart Wade has the touch on romantic comedy. He creates character's that i feel Like I know. However,my favorite gem in the movie is Jason Stuart. Who starts out as the"office gossip" makes the transition as the dependable shoulder to"lean on" and the voice of reason in the film. It really showcases his talent as the go to character actor.

Excellent Movie about friends with questions

[jimmatlock2004 · 10/10 · 5 February 2009]

I watched this movie twice off the bat. It was so interesting about a blind date between a openly gay man with a straight man. It's almost a romance movie, however, the main character continues to be straight and all his family and co-workers believe him to be gay. It's a story about deep friendship between two people have different sexual preferences, although the straight guy begins to have second thoughts about his heterosexuality. The two have a lot in common and begin to go out together as friends, which is mistaken as a relationship and the story just goes wild from there. It's a very good movie sure to entertain. It's a strange movie for a gay man like me to watch because I never heard the words, "I'm straight" so much in a gay themed movie. However, it's bound to charm you. I hope and think you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Fun and Funny

[cwilson-46 · 8/10 · 15 October 2007]

I thought this movie was fun to watch. But I will have to catch it again, because I had to take my dog out to go poopy and missed the part when they slept together and what happened after that.

I got to hand it to Wilson Cruz. I thought he acted very well in this movie. I always thought he was a raging queen and couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. Well this movie totally changed my mind. I think he did a wonderful job and I look forward to seeing him again in other movies.

I will comment again on this movie when I see the entire film.

Until then, enjoy it. Just watch it for the story that unfolds in front of you.

Very sweet realistic way

[Irishchatter · 8/10 · 15 November 2014]

We met a recently divorced straight guy named Todd and gets hooked up from his brother to this wonderful gay guy named Kelly. When the two of them first met, I honestly thought Todd was into Kelly by denying that he is gay. So Todd decides to prank his brother to let him know his date went well. The next morning, his proud mother is proud of him to becoming gay along with his co-workers. Things have gone out of control so Todd and Kelly make love. However the next day, Todd was late for work and for days didn't call Kelly whom I felt sorry for because I know how it feels to not hear from someone you really know for days! Anyways so we cut to the end, Todd invites Kelly one last time for a coffee. The only disappointment there was they didn't kiss or give us audience hints of what they will do next for themselves when the film ended. Its a good movie but if you're the type that likes happy endings (like me) then I wouldn't see this movie unless you want to see the few kissing scenes! Haha