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Coffee Town
Coffee Town
Coffee Town
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Coffee Town
Directed byBrad Copeland
Written byBrad Copeland
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAnthony B. Richmond
Edited byNed Bastille
Music byThe Wellspring
Distributed byFilmbuff
Release dates
  • July 9, 2013 (2013-07-09) (On-demand platforms)
  • July 27, 2013 (2013-07-27) (Just For Laughs)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Coffee Town is a 2013 American comedy film written and directed by Brad Copeland. The first feature film from CollegeHumor, it was released on July 9, 2013 on digital platforms and in select theatrical engagements, leading up to a festival premiere on July 27, 2013 at Just For Laughs in Montreal.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Will is a website manager for an electronics company who uses his local coffee house, Coffee Town, as his own personal office. When the corporate owners of the shop have plans to convert the coffee house into a modern Coffee Town and Bistro, Will enlists the help of his two best friends – lighting salesman Chad and local police officer Gino – to save his office. In order to thwart the plans of Coffee Town's corporate owners, the trio plan to stage a robbery, creating the illusion of a crime-riddled neighborhood that is not suitable for a bistro. However, standing in Will's way is Sam, a disgruntled barista with big dreams of being a rock star. Meanwhile, Will tries his best to court his coffee house crush Becca, an ER trauma nurse.[2]

Cast

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Coffee Town

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Coffee Town is a 2013 American comedy film written and directed by Brad Copeland. The story centers on Will, a 30-something website manager portrayed by Glenn Howerton, who treats the local café Coffee Town as his personal office and rallies his two slacker friends—played by Ben Schwartz and Steve Little—to sabotage plans to convert the establishment into a bar. Released initially on video on demand on July 9, 2013, the film marks the first feature-length production from the digital media company CollegeHumor. Produced by Kathryn Dean and under , Coffee Town features a supporting cast including , , and Matt Walsh, blending irreverent humor with themes of friendship and resistance to change. The screenplay, also by Copeland, draws from the laid-back, millennial , emphasizing Will's freeloading lifestyle and the chaotic schemes he devises to preserve his daily routine. With a runtime of 87 minutes, the film heightens its comedic absurdity through character-driven humor. Critically, Coffee Town received mixed reviews, earning a 55% audience score on based on over 500 ratings, with praise for its energetic performances but criticism for uneven pacing and predictable gags. On , it holds a 6.5 out of 10 rating from more than 5,000 users, appreciated by fans of Howerton's deadpan delivery from his It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia role. Though not a hit due to its limited VOD release, the movie has garnered a for its nostalgic take on coffee shop culture and DIY .

Plot and characters

Plot summary

Will, a 30-something manager, treats the Coffee Town café as his unofficial , where he works remotely while enjoying free and endless refills. One day, he overhears the owners discussing plans to convert the laid-back café into a bar to attract corporate investors, threatening the comfortable status quo that allows Will to freeload without commitment. Determined to preserve his routine, Will recruits his friends—Chad, a dim-witted salesman, and Gino, an irresponsible —to stage a fake aimed at scaring off the potential investors by making the location seem unsafe. Complicating matters is Sam, an aspiring rock who enthusiastically supports the bar conversion, believing it will provide a for his indie performances and help fund his dreams. Meanwhile, Will awkwardly pursues a romance with Becca, a kind-hearted ER nurse and fellow regular at the café, though his advances are repeatedly thwarted by mishaps and his own insecurities. As the group prepares for the heist, they scout the and rehearse their roles, with Gino providing toy guns and contributing ill-conceived ideas like disguises involving oversized hats. Sam's impromptu musical sets, featuring earnest folk-rock numbers about , further irritate Will and underscore the cultural shift the bar represents. The plan goes awry during execution when the fake robbers burst in during a meeting with investors, including a stern "Bald Guy" representative, but Gino's incompetence leads to accidental real gunfire from a misfired prop, prompting genuine panic and police involvement—ironically, since Gino is on the . The botched robbery spirals into chaos: Will ends up handcuffed and interrogated, Chad accidentally sets off a fire alarm while hiding, and Sam heroically intervenes with his guitar as a makeshift , inadvertently foiling the scheme in a way that scares off the investors. Personal mishaps compound the disaster, such as Will spilling on Becca during a flirtatious moment and Gino's cruiser getting towed in the commotion. As the dust settles, the group's cover-up attempts fail spectacularly, exposing their freeloading ways to the café owners and investors. In the resolution, the chaotic events ultimately prevent the bar conversion, allowing Coffee Town to remain unchanged. Will reconciles with Becca and continues his café-based routine, having gained some appreciation for the unpredictability of change while preserving his comfortable lifestyle.

Cast and characters

The principal cast of Coffee Town features a mix of comedic actors known from television, bringing distinct personalities to the film's ensemble of quirky regulars at the titular café. stars as Will, the protagonist and a laid-back website manager who relies heavily on the café as his makeshift , allowing him to maintain a low-effort routine while handling remote tech support calls. Steve Little portrays Chad, Will's dim-witted yet enthusiastic best friend, whose overly optimistic and naive suggestions often lead to absurd complications in the group's schemes. plays Gino, Will's sarcastic and somewhat inept friend, whose reluctant involvement add layers of dry humor to the trio's interactions. Key supporting roles deepen the film's romantic and antagonistic elements. Adrianne Palicki appears as Becca, Will's love interest and an independent ER trauma nurse who frequents the café, providing a grounded contrast to the protagonists' chaos through her no-nonsense demeanor. Josh Groban is cast as Sam, the ambitious barista harboring dreams of rock stardom, whose rivalry with Will stems from opposing views on the café's future and Sam's desire for change. The ensemble includes notable cameos that enhance the comedic backdrop, such as Derek Waters as Will's former roommate, whose brief appearance highlights Will's stagnant lifestyle, and the café owner, a mild-mannered figure caught in the crossfire of the characters' antics.
ActorCharacterDescription
WillProtagonist; laid-back website manager using the café as his office.
Steve LittleChadDim-witted, enthusiastic friend providing comic relief through naivety.
GinoSarcastic, inept cop friend contributing witty banter.
BeccaIndependent ER nurse and Will's romantic interest.
SamAmbitious with musical dreams, rival to Will.
Will's former roommateBrief role underscoring Will's personal history.
The characters' dynamics drive much of the film's humor, particularly through the central trio of Will, , and Gino, whose constant bickering and mismatched ideas—such as staging a fake robbery to preserve the —create escalating comedic tension. Sam's rivalry with Will amplifies the conflict, as his aspirations clash with the group's attachment to the status quo, leading to pointed confrontations that highlight themes of change versus comfort. These interactions, fueled by the actors' improvisational chemistry, underscore the film's buddy-comedy roots without delving into deeper emotional arcs.

Production

Development

Coffee Town was written and directed by Brad Copeland, an American television writer and producer best known for his contributions to series such as and . The screenplay originated as a slacker comedy centered on the quirks of contemporary coffee shop work culture, with Copeland developing the concept during a personal visit to a location. This premise reflects a narrative of underachieving protagonists navigating everyday absurdities in informal office-like settings, echoing themes in earlier workplace satires. In January 2012, announced Coffee Town as the comedy website's inaugural theatrical feature film, marking a strategic expansion from its roots in online sketches and short-form video content into full-length cinema. Produced by , the project was financed primarily by the company itself, with an estimated budget under $1 million to keep costs low and agile. The script was acquired and greenlit in early 2012 by co-founder , who served as producer. Creative influences for the film included classic workplace comedies such as Office Space, which similarly explored themes of corporate drudgery and resistance to change through freeloading characters. Early development also saw the attachment of key talent, including Glenn Howerton in the lead role, announced alongside the project's reveal to build momentum. As market dynamics shifted toward digital platforms, the production pivoted from an initial theatrical rollout to a video-on-demand (VOD) strategy, aligning with CollegeHumor's web-savvy audience and cost-effective distribution model.

Casting and filming

The casting process for Coffee Town prioritized actors with strong improvisational abilities to suit the film's ensemble comedy style. was selected for the lead role of Will, drawing on his experience and deadpan delivery from , which aligned with the character's slacker persona. Singer was cast as the uptight café manager Sam to provide a humorous contrast to his typical dramatic image, enhancing the film's comedic dynamics. Comedians as Gino and Steve Little as Chad were brought on through connections in the comedy network, with auditions focusing on their ability to deliver quick-fire lines and improvise within the group scenes. Principal photography took place in the area during spring 2012 over 18 days. Locations featured real cafés and urban streets in , and other area sites to authentically capture the film's coffee shop setting and city atmosphere. The technical team included cinematographer , who handled the visual style emphasizing the café's intimate spaces. Editing was led by Ned Bastille, shaping the 88-minute runtime from improvised footage. The score was composed by The Wellspring, incorporating original tracks to underscore the comedic elements. Production faced challenges from a low budget under $1 million, necessitating rapid shooting schedules and heavy reliance on improvisation to extend scenes efficiently.

Release and reception

Release

_Coffee Town adopted a video-on-demand (VOD)-first distribution strategy, bypassing a traditional wide theatrical release in favor of digital accessibility to reach comedy audiences efficiently. The film partnered with digital distributor FilmBuff for its rollout, launching on major VOD platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox, and various cable/satellite providers such as Comcast, DirecTV, and Time Warner Cable on July 9, 2013. A limited theatrical rollout accompanied the digital debut, featuring select screenings in U.S. cities to build buzz prior to broader online availability. The film's world premiere took place at the festival in on July 27, 2013, where cast members, writer, and director attended a special screening at . This event served as a high-profile launchpad for the indie , highlighting its festival circuit potential despite the absence of a wide theatrical distribution due to its independent production status. Marketing efforts centered on CollegeHumor's established ecosystem, leveraging the site's vast audience of comedy enthusiasts through trailers, promotional sketches, and campaigns that emphasized the film's VOD exclusivity. This digital-first promotion aligned with the distributor's , targeting niche viewers via web videos and targeted ads rather than conventional . Internationally, Coffee Town saw limited availability through digital platforms in select English-speaking territories, with no significant theatrical releases abroad to match its U.S.-centric VOD model.

Critical reception

Critical reception to Coffee Town has been mixed among the limited professional reviews, reflecting its niche appeal as a low-budget from digital origins. On , the film received a 33% Tomatometer score based on three critic reviews, lacking an official average rating due to the small sample, while the audience score stands at 55% from over 500 ratings. users rated it 6.5/10 based on more than 5,400 votes. Positive critiques highlighted the film's ensemble dynamics and occasional sharp humor. The Hollywood Reporter praised the cast, drawn from offbeat TV series such as and , for bringing energy to the slacker-centric narrative. Similarly, We Got This Covered described it as "full of laughs from start to finish," crediting the CollegeHumor team's execution in transitioning to features and noting strong in key scenes. Criticisms centered on uneven execution, predictable plotting, and overreliance on familiar tropes. The Washington Post found it promising at the outset but ultimately "cringe-inducing," particularly for audiences outside its core demographic of young adult males. Madison Movie deemed it a "disaster," with long stretches of unfunny material despite the performers' efforts. Reviewers frequently drew parallels to Office Space for its satire of modern worklife and coffee shop culture but faulted Coffee Town for embodying conventions without sufficient subversion or originality. The film's initial VOD release broadened access for reviewers and contributed to its cult following among comedy enthusiasts.

Digital and box office performance

Coffee Town had a in the United States on July 9, 2013, consisting of select screenings that did not sell out, resulting in minimal and no wide distribution, which contributed to the film's low theatrical figures. The film's primary commercial focus was on digital platforms, where it launched simultaneously on video-on-demand (VOD) services including , , Amazon Instant Video, and cable/satellite providers. and emerged as the top-performing platforms, with Coffee Town maintaining a position in the top 20 movies chart through August 2013, indicating sustained viewership and sales for the indie comedy. Produced on a of $2 million, Coffee Town achieved its commercial viability primarily through and VOD revenue rather than traditional theatrical runs, with no reported international data available. This approach underscored the film's success within CollegeHumor's low-marketing, multiplatform distribution model, enabling precise tracking of audience engagement. The strong digital performance demonstrated the potential of VOD as a profitable pathway for independent comedy films, influencing CollegeHumor's strategy for subsequent projects by highlighting the effectiveness of leveraging online fanbases for targeted releases.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coffee_town
  2. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234025/
  3. https://www.movieinsider.com/m9810/coffee-town
  4. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/198062-coffee-town
  5. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/coffee-town/details/
  6. https://www.flixist.com/review-coffee-town/
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234025/plotsummary/
  8. https://letterboxd.com/film/coffee-town/
  9. https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/coffee/coffee-town
  10. https://madisonmovie.org/2015/02/18/dvd-review-coffee-town-chokes-down-the-dregs-of-comedy/
  11. https://www.tinymixtapes.com/film/coffee-town
  12. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coffee_town/cast-and-crew
  13. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/198062-coffee-town/cast?language=en-US
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234025/fullcredits/
  15. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/coffee-town-film-review-583921/
  16. https://sprudge.com/eric-grimm-reviews-coffee-town-41009.html
  17. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/collegehumor-sets-coffee-town-as-280912/
  18. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-coffee-town-college-humor-20130706-story.html
  19. https://www.tubefilter.com/2013/07/09/college-humor-coffee-town-feature-film/
  20. https://www.slashfilm.com/519324/arrested-development-writerproducer-brad-copeland-hired-direct-collegehumors-feature-film/
  21. https://deadline.com/2013/06/collegehumor-sets-first-feature-coffee-town-for-vod-release-513067/
  22. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/inside-coffee-town-college-humors-first-movie-204184/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234025/locations
  24. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-jul-06-la-et-mn-coffee-town-college-humor-20130706-story.html
  25. https://variety.com/2013/digital/news/coffee-town-film-keeps-hot-on-digital-platforms-1200575174/
  26. https://www.theverge.com/2013/7/6/4498494/collegehumor-to-release-coffee-town-first-feature-length-film-itunes-amazon
  27. https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/just-for-laughs-onscreen-humour-with-the-movie-coffee-town
  28. https://www.facebook.com/Coffeetownmovie/posts/come-see-the-cast-writer-and-director-of-coffee-town-this-saturday-in-montreal-a/623680834316553/
  29. https://tribecafilm.com/news/ricky-van-veen-interview-part-two-coffee-town
  30. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/coffee-town/critic-reviews/
  31. https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/coffee-town-review/
  32. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coffee_town/reviews
  33. https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Coffee-Town
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