paulbakalite

What a dud. If it was 2002, a year after 9/11, some of the subject matter might be daring, but this was released in 2006. It's not too soon as some have commented, it's too late. The writing is so leaden that's it is hard to stay alert to the few simple plot lines, which are tissue thin. Satirizing a puppet American president, a reluctant terrorist and a craven Pop Idol wannabe may all be good causes but satire needs to be machete sharp. This film's satire is as clumsy and safe as a toddler wielding a toy hammer.

A strong cast including Jennifer Coolidge, Willem Dafoe and ever-irritating posh boy Hugh Grant fail to enliven such clunky nonsense, there's not much they can do with an under-worked script and negligible character depth. Admittedly exciting themes go nowhere from the moment the first snail-slow scene opens. Straight to DVD and forgotten is the best place for this. I laughed once.

The Harries family are shoddily treated in this film. They don't have great gifts but they are likable enough and Lauren (formerly odd little prodigy James Harries) has had to be tough to deal with others' ignorance - as many people who have had a sex change do. There is an increasing trend in television to humiliate and deceive participants in documentaries and reality shows. Is it the modern-day equivalent of throwing Christians to the lions?

The Harries emerge from this film content in their eccentricity and should be respected for that. Presenter, Keith Allen, on the other hand appears narrow-minded and aggressive.

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).