Last year, online comedy video platform CollegeHumor released Coffee Town, marking the first time it had ever produced a feature film. After a limited theatrical run and a few screenings at film festivals, Coffee Town is now coming to TV. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be shown over the next 18 months on HBO and Cinemax.
Coffee Town stars It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia leading man Glenn Howerton as a web developer who must rally the fellow patrons of his favorite coffee shop in order to prevent it from being turned into the bar. The film’s talented cast also includes Ben Schwartz, Adrianne Palicki, and Josh Groban, and its trailer has picked up more than 11,000 likes on YouTube to date.
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User reviews for the film have been generally positive, though it has not received much attention from mainstream critics. By coming to premium cable, Coffee Town will be able to reach a wider audience than the one it achieved through digital distribution. “The reaction to Coffee Town has greatly exceeded our expectations,” said proudcer Ricky Van Veen, a co-founder of CollegeHumor. “I’m excited for more people to stumble upon it in a different environment and join the movie’s fan base.”
The HBO deal was brokered by Electus International; the digital studio has worked with closely with CollegeHumor since the two InterActiveCorp (IAC) properties were united by a January 2014 deal. Electus also managed to sell the film’s distribution rights to channels in the Spain and the UK. I hope the Brits aren’t turned off by the film’s clear preference for coffee over tea.
