That Awkward Moment (2014)
Certified: 15
Duration: 94 minutes
Directed by: Tom Gormican
Starring: Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Imogen Poots, Mackenzie Davis, Jessica Lucas, Addison Timlin, Emily Meade, Josh Pais
KRS release
Friends Jason (Zac Efron), Daniel (Miles Teller) and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) are very different from each other. Mikey works as a doctor and is married, while Jason and Daniel design book covers and are happy being ‘professional’ bachelors, complete with a ‘roster’ of girls.
One day Mikey discovers that Vera (Jessica Lucas) is cheating on him and his life comes crashing down. He ends up living with Jason and Daniel, who as a sign of solidarity, agree not to fall in love with anyone for his sake.
But things turn out differently. Jason has a one-night stand with Ellie (Imogen Poots) whom he believes to be a prostitute. But he soon discovers that she is a writer at the start of her career and is the new client at the publishing house where he works.
Daniel sleeps with Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), who is friend of theirs, and feelings start to creep in; while Mikey wants to get back with his wife.
The three start relationships but because of their promise to each other, they want to avoid commitments.
That Awkward Moment is a romantic comedy that mixes the usual elements of the genre and combines them with factors that had made the film Old School (2003) such a hit. It is not breaking new ground and the formula is recognisable, but the way it presents itself and its characters is enjoyable.
Under Tom Gormican’s direction, who also wrote the script, this picture has a sense for romance and male camaraderie. It also brings in rude and raunchy moments in the Judd Apatow style, but without overdoing it.
That Awkward Moment focuses on two types of relationships: the buddy one between the males and the love one between the two sexes. Interspersed in between are funny and, at times, hilarious moments that keep the spring in the film’s pacing.
Seeing the three friends cheat, not on their love interests, but on the pact made to their buddies makes for a different storyline.
All the characters develop during the film’s duration and even though the spotlight is on Efron’s character, there is plenty of time for the rest of the cast. In fact I would have liked to see more of the others, especially the female point of view of the entire goings on. In the romance area, the female cast turns the tables on the male one.
Former High School Musical star Efron delivers a smooth performance and shares good chemistry with Poots. I really would have liked to see more of Teller; the time he shares with the very interesting Davis gives the film an added spark.
The film is set in Manhattan and, at times, achieves the feel of a typical Woody Allen production in the way it looks at this city. It will surely go down well with romantic comedy lovers or couples in love.