That Awkward Moment (2014)
USA, 94 min, Rated 14A (ON) 13+ (QC)
Reviewed 02/14, © Stephen Bourne, moviequips.ca
www.ofrb.gov.on.ca | www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca


Tom Gormican - Director/Screenplay
Brandon Trost - Cinematography


SYNOPSIS:

"The R-rated comedy, THAT AWKWARD MOMENT, (is) about three best friends who find themselves where we've all been - at that confusing 'moment' in every dating relationship when you have to decide 'So... where is this going?'" - thatawkwardmomentmovie.com

REVIEW:

Zac Efron stars as boyish Manhattan publishing house book designer Jason, a quick-witted yet emotionally dumb player whose uncomplicated life of evading commitment unravels on the heels of vowing with friends to remain single, when he stumbles into romance. Sadly, this forgettable sophomoric debut flick from writer/director Tom Gormican plays out more as a flaccid R-rated 20-something riff on John Hughes' 80s teen movie classics such as The Breakfast Club (1985) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). Without any of the good stuff. That Awkward Moment co-stars Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan as Jason's long-time buddies, dorky man-child Daniel and recently separated Mikey, as well as features Imogen Poots as Jason's love interest Ellie, and Mackenzie Davis as Daniel's "wing man" Chelsea.

Back in 2010 when Gormican's screenplay for That Awkward Moment was entitled Are We Officially Dating?, some film executives apparently considered it one of the most-liked unproduced scripts included alongside those for The Hunger Games (2012), Argo (2012), and Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013), in The Black List survey of fledgling industry faves for that year. According to its synopsis listed on The Black List website, Are We Officially Dating? was a dating comedy about guys who avoid relationships. Cool. Lads being cads. That sounds funny. After having screened That Awkward Moment, I can imagine how some of this movie's scenes would have been riotously hilarious within that irreverent context. Unfortunately, this movie ain't that movie.

Sure, That Awkward Moment begins with the same premise. Efron's character starts off glibly doling his perils, uh, pearls of wisdom recognizing it's time for party boy Jason to hit eject when any of the women he's bedding use "The 'So'". "The 'So'", his Ferris Bueller-like narrative explains, is when she starts a sentence with "So...". It inevitably leads to her asking where they're going with each other, relationship-wise. Are they friends with benefits? Just dating? A couple? More? Meh, to Jason, nothing good ever comes from "The 'So'". It's a total buzz-kill. Seriously. Eject. Jason's bachelor mantra is confirmed when he learns Mikey's wife wants a divorce. Long-time buddy Daniel joins in their Bro-mance pact to forever savour the care-free, swaggering singles lifestyle of marathon Xbox matches and no-strings booty calls. (Read more)

continue to page 2 | top | home | index