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Tom Gormican
January 31, 2014
Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller) are happily single. Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) thought he was happily married until he finds out his wife is cheating on him. Jason and Daniel work together in a publishing house designing book covers. Mikey is a successful emergency room doctor. And when Mikey is suddenly single, the three agree to avoid any meaningful relationships with any women and just have fun, even if it means a string of endless one-night stands. But the more they struggle to remain single and unattached, the more they each gravitate to “the one.”
What is disappointing is the dreadfully underdeveloped plotline—Mikey trying to mend his marriage—which, despite Jordan’s endearing performance, fails to generate much emotional impact. Even with strong performances from its actors, “That Awkward Moment” feels like a missed opportunity because it is neither especially intelligent nor humorous. Given how great the cast is and how they have all recently appeared in better movies, the screenplay’s cliched nature is made all the more aggravating.
What does work is the cast. When Michael B. Jordan, Zac Efron, and Miles Teller are joined, the three actors become a force to be reckoned with. They are extraordinary; the ideal synthesis of personalities both on and off the screen. Jordan is the “old guy” of the gang. He is the responsible one, epitomizes the worry that comes with life; cooking, cleaning, being polite, and caring. Unexpectedly, the group’s attractive leading man—turns out to be the weakest link in the chain. His strength is that as Jason, Efron conveys the youthful energy of a man in his 20s who is seeking to find his footing, whether it be a frat boy kind of guy or an upstanding relationship/future oriented guy. Sadly, he never settles into a rhythm of balancing the two sides of the coin, which becomes irritating in contrast to Teller who does so with such a natural and organic ease.
“That Awkward Moment” isn’t really a disaster, but more a disappointment considering the cast Tom Gormican had at hand. It was a good idea, and would have related with a lot more people if it had been executed properly.
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