Review: Defining Relationships And Other "Awkward Moments"

Adam Reynoso ’15 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer

Going into this film, the first thing that may come to mind is MTV‘s own scripted program, Awkward., another show dealing with those, well, awkward-high-school moments surrounding a female teenager. Of course, this film will flip that  idea on its head and, instead focused on the friendship and relationships of three twenty-somethings played by Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan.

Maybe it’s personally entering that age of being a twenty-something or maybe it’s the references to chick flicks like Bridget Jone’s Diary and The Breakfast Club, but what stood out the most was the atmosphere. The soundtrack had subtle hints of an 80’s-esque coming of age tale, but it maintained it’s place in modern times with the technology and present day NYC setting. If anything, it felt like a response to every other romance movie coming out in the next couple of weeks for Valentine’s Day season, because yes, that is a season in the film world, as unfortunate as it may seem.

Another highlight of That Awkward Moment was that fact that it gave another insight into three different tropes, while bringing it back together with the trio’s group dynamic. Each actor had his own story with respective actresses, Imogen Poots, Jessica Lucas and Mackenzie Davis.  One of said stories dealt with the aftermath of a series of flings and no strings attached kind of relationships that eventually lead to the question: when does one know when it’s time to get out of that.

The second story looks into that idea of marrying the one person that seems to fit the “marry” box, right after college, and then seeing what happens when those boxes might not have checked out. And finally, as well as a personal favorite, is the story of two friends exploring the “what if” of their relationships and seeing what it’s like when two people know another enough to go into that next stage of intimacy.

What’s great might have to be the fact that when it came to said “Awkward Moments,” it wasn’t just the guys laughing, but it was the females in the crowd as well. If anything stood out the most, it was the fact that the feature presentation depicted what it’s like to enter a world where it’s so easy to judge a book by its cover, despite everything a generation might have been taught. And, if anything, it’s the chemistry between the three male leads, not just with each other, but with their female counterparts, who offer that extra interesting insight into what it’s like to be the guy in those awkward situations.

And finally, it’s definitely proven that Zac Efron can deliver an insightful flash forward, as well as an emotional; tear inducing all or nothing speech that definitely draws from Jerry Maguire.

Overall Grade: B+