Cafe (2010)

Directed by: Marc Erlbaum | 95 minutes | drama | Actors: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Daniel Eric Gold, Hubbel Palmer, Michaela McManus, Madeline Carroll, Alexa Vega, Jamie Kennedy, Maria Armesto, Khan Baykal, Gavin Bellour, Brandon Milan, Cecelia Ann Birt, Chris Bowyer, Tara Broadway, Derek Cecil, Jessica Czop

What if you live in a world that isn’t real? What if you are not real yourself? These philosophical issues are explored by filmmaker Marc Erlbaum in his film ‘Café’. Erlbaum starts with a police raid on the West Philly Grounds coffee house, where ‘Café’ is set. Then, through flashbacks, you see a complete week pass, during which you meet a variety of visitors to West Philly Grounds and its employees.

Todd (Daniel Eric Gold) works there from morning to afternoon, playing in a band in his spare time. He is secretly in love with colleague Claire (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and shows it subtly. But Claire doesn’t take his hints, she’s busy with her own worries and she already has a boyfriend. It’s nice that Erlbaum makes us guess whether Todd and Claire get together or not during the film, but the storylines surrounding the regular coffee customers are much more interesting. You see a woman having a drink with an unknown man after watching a movie. A writer in the corner observes the couple while using the cafe as a source of inspiration for his stories. But a police officer also drops by for his daily caffeine shot, who is left helpless as drug dealer Glenn (Jamie Kennedy) uses the coffeehouse as a meeting place with customers…

That the world in which West Philly Grounds’ customers and employees is not real is highlighted by visitor Craig (Hubbel Palmer). He is suddenly addressed via his laptop by a mysterious Elly (Madeline Carroll). She states that he is an avatar made by her, as are everyone else in the coffeehouse. So they don’t really exist. Craig’s “aha” moment when he sees Elly is telling the truth may have to come across as comical – but Erlbaum fails miserably on this one. Among other things, Elly shows her equal to ‘avatar’ Craig through a singing butterfly and the way in which all customers suddenly start dancing with each other. Unfortunately ‘Café’ is going downhill from this point on. Where you first got to experience the ups and downs of the customers and employees as a kind of voyeur, the film then descends to this virtual world theory that does not catch on and is told to you in a vague way.

It’s a mystery why Love Hewitt and Kennedy are in this vehicle, as they seem totally out of place in ‘Café’. Also, the strength of their game really leaves a lot to be desired. You are simply used to better thanks to their roles in the TV series ‘The Ghost Whisperer’. Kennedy appears very bored here in ‘Café’ and colleague Love Hewitt mainly relies on her lovely appearance.

If the filmmaker had completely omitted the virtual world and explored the events surrounding the coffeehouse’s customers and employees more deeply, ‘Café’ would have been much more captivating. Because as events unfold now, you do need a strong cup of coffee to keep your attention…