Review: That Awkward Moment
February 4, 2014
Since “The Hangover,” bromance comedies have become a fad on both film and television, and “That Awkward Moment” is the next in line.
The movie tells the story of three young Manhattan-dwelling guys living the high life. They live in New York apartments they probably can’t afford, drink constantly with no repercussions and dress as if they had trendy, hipster designers hiding in their closets.
“Although they looked snazzy in the whole movie, it was just so unrealistic. There were even times when they would all coordinate in some way like they were all walking side by side and Zac would have a blue blazer that matched Miles’ blue shirt and Michael’s blue sweater. It was so obvious that they had been dressed by a costume designer,” sophomore international studies major Allegra Johnson said.
When their best friend Mikey, played by Michael B. Jordan (“Chronicle”) gets thrown into the middle of a divorce after finding out his wife is cheating, Daniel, played by Miles Teller (“21 and Over”), and Jason, played by Zac Efron (“High School Musical”), decide to make a pact to stay single with their friend through his divorce.
They all start to build their “roster” of women to casually sleep with but never date when the plan is derailed by each guy falling in love with someone special whilst being forced to maintain a façade of bachelorhood.
“That Awkward Moment” has several ongoing jokes throughout the movie that are sure to leave you laughing, as well as absurd remarks and nearly-naked men. Those are the highlights of the film.
“I love how you could tell that some of the jokes were improvised. It was hilarious and great how well the actors played off of each other.” sophomore French and chemistry major Harrison Hogan said.
That being said, the movie had several flaws. For instance, the character of Mikey, who is a very young doctor in New York, seems to have more free time than children in summer.
Another instance, which albeit was a funny moment in the movie, was Efron’s R-rated costume worn to Ellie’s (Imogen Poots) “dress up” party.
The film played it off as a misunderstanding of the term “dress up,” but it seems highly unlikely that Efron’s character, Jason, would not only dress as vulgar as he did to meet Ellie’s friends and family for the first time, but he definitely wouldn’t walk past the door frame once he realized his mistake.
As the film goes on, Efron’s story seems to overwhelm that of his costars and the movie becomes overdramatic at that point. After an unexpected death, marriage failure, and walks down the streets of Manhattan looking solemnly into the distance, the boys find themselves enduring the most depressing Thanksgiving in recorded history.
By the end of the day, they each find themselves single like they had originally agreed upon in the beginning of the film. After that, the movie becomes a cheesy love montage to regain lost relationships and start new journeys.
This brings us to the only possible way this film could have ended; with a watery eyed Zac Efron delivering an “I’m sorry” speech in front of strangers whilst staring directly into camera. And that was an awkward moment.