| The Love Patient | |
| Director: | Michael Simon |
| Producer: |
|
| Starring: |
|
| Music: | Don Barrett |
| Cinematography: | Christopher S. Walters |
| Editing: | Bob Poirier |
| Studio: | Passion Fruit Productions |
| Distributor: | TLA Releasing |
| Runtime: | 95 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
The Love Patient is a 2011 gay-themed romantic comedy written and directed by Michael Simon, released to festivals in 2011, and on DVD in 2012.[1]
Paul (Benjamin Lutz), a professional ad executive, is suffering and feeling nostalgic about his former relationship to Brad (John Werskey), a whole year after their break up. Paul is not used to losing, is self-involved, and too haughty to go crawling back to his ex asking for a second chance, hence he comes up with an elaborate plan to win Brad's pity, affection, and love. Brad has since moved on and is now dating a bisexual former Bowflex model called Ted (Jackson Palmer).
Paul helps bail out his doctor Burt Halper (Mike Pfaff) out of a financial strain, on condition that he diagnoses Paul with cancer and prescribes a fake treatment. Word is conveniently spread to Brad, who reacts by coming to care for his ex. However, Paul's antics are too good, even his mother moves in, turning his apartment into a makeshift hospital. Trouble brews when his snoopy sister tags along and soon starts to notice that something is amiss. Paul soon finds himself deep in the situation without any hope of controlling it, especially when it comes to his unpredictable sister.
All his plans unravel when Brad's new boyfriend, Ted, is successfully seduced by his sister and whispers of Paul's fake cancer to Brad as she breaks the dual. Brad is distraught and feels played and manipulated but is quickly comforted by the now healed Paul. The two find themselves too intertwined since their meeting to break up their cordial relation.