That
Awkward Moment
The real awkward moment is when you realize you aren’t laughing.
Then, it gets even more awkward when the movie gets all emotional, and
you realize you don’t care about any of these characters.
Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan star as Jason, Daniel and
Mikey – three NYC dudes trying to figure out life and love, but
spending more time chasing the ladies and extracurricular activities
than wooing and romancing the future Miss Right. They are more
interested in Miss Right Now.
Mikey ended up reuniting with these friends because his wife has
informed him that she wants a divorce, so consummate players (playas?)
Jason and Daniel have made a pledge to remain single and help Mikey
enjoy prowling for ladies just like they do.
Of course, all three have someone in their sights who seems too special
to occupy the role of one night stand, so we have to wonder if they
will choose loyalty to the pledge, or moving forward with the woman of
their dreams.
You can feel writer/director Tom Gormican thinks his movie tears the
mask off of romantic relationships with “frankness” about
how men really feel and think, but it would have more impact if those
men in the movie really did feel and think. Just watch Swingers again
if you want to see a movie about friends dealing with relationships.
Gormican gives us a script that pales in comparison because it is full
of forced, unnatural dialogue. No one talks and acts like this!
All of the characters seem to be going through the motions, while
Gormican desperately tries to “make it real” by tossing in
as much R-rated material as he can, but it’s not real. It’s
just a bunch of R-rated material forced in to make the movie appear to
be edgy and groundbreaking. He should have focused more on the
characters, or giving us more crazy and funny moments, but neither
direction is chosen.
Efron and Teller are charming enough, and make you think these
characters would have been played by Bill Murray and Chevy Chase 35
years ago, because the situations and themes allegedly broached here
are everlasting, not new and exciting and fresh. Each generation just
thinks they have discovered it for the first time.
Worst of all, the three don’t have great chemistry together.
Teller and Efron seem to work well together (and might be too much like
carbon copies), but Jordan never gels with either one of them solo or
when in a group setting with both. I don’t blame the actors.
It’s the writing that is flat when Mikey is around. He is almost
too grown up for these guys and never shows the shock he should be
feeling about the situation.
That Awkward Moment needed some funnier
moments.
That Awkward Moment is rated R for sexual
content and language throughout.
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