Jack (Nick Lanciano) is a funny guy. He spreads cheer, wisdom, and changes hearts, in a New York comic kind of way. Most of all, he heals them. Jack is a healer, sent from God, (Claudio Baccile) and this morning he’s having coffee with his favorite boss. God, doing some Hawaiian shirt chillin’ on a coffee shop bench, drinking his favorite creation, coffee, discusses plans he has for Jack. The first assignment involves relaying a message to a man named Bobby (Wayne Shearer) from his sister, already a resident of heaven, which will require calling up the deceased. His second and most important mission is to heal a young teen, Emma (Meah Lanciano), a terminally sick, challenging foster child whose mother died a few years back. But one more before he goes. God appreciates Jack’s sense of humor, handing him an appointment card, good for two heals in the gastro doctor’s waiting room. The result is scene of goofy, smelly toilet humor …
After a long drive, Jack lands in the small town where Emma Brooks lives with a diligently kind foster mom Amy Boyle (Trisha Graybill). Too soon he finds himself leaving, deflated by Emma’s surly rejection and Amy’s skepticism. His next coffee conference with God reveals a little of his own dubious attitude, which is promptly and divinely adjusted. God suggests making Emma laugh, so Jack visits again, wearing a nerdy hat and Porky Pig nose. Eventually, both Emma and Amy are won over and the three find themselves sharing more and more time together. Emma and Amy are amazed to see Jack heal people until they experience it first hand the night a violent headache attack requires Jack’s healing powers over Emma. This tightens their bond, but when Jack isn’t able to heal her a second time, doubt and anger overtake him. He rushes to a small church to yell at the altar, questioning God’s sovereignty and God himself. It is then that God appears, requiring a monumental work from Jack.
Coffee with God has all the right and noble intentions — honor, trust and sacrifice for God. An inspirational line reflects wisdom, “Bad things happen — it’s what you do about it that’s important.” The problems occur with scenes and dialogue that contradict Christian beliefs, such as taking Jesus’ name in vain and God appointing Jack as a healer and spiritual medium. A couple of lines in the film discourage reading the Book, which is where we study God’s attributes. For many Christians it walks a fragile and sensitive line to have characters speak contrived words from God, since the Bible teaches that God’s revelatory statements, including teachings about Himself, ended with the apostles’ writings (Jude 1:3, Rev 22:18-19). Production wise, there are a few continuity and sound glitches as well as many scenes just being way too long. Nick Lanciano is no doubt talented in performing comedy and is fun to watch. Supporting acting can be uneven, but there are convincing scenes. Dove appreciates the intentions of the film, but because of controversial doctrinal material, Coffee with God isn’t Dove approved.
The Dove Take:
Although Coffee with God has entertaining moments and aspires to send an encouraging message of trusting and believing God, this dramedy contains quite a few instances that contradict biblical teachings.
