2268. That Awkward Moment (2014)

Starring: Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan

Director: Tom Gormican

Running Time: 94 mins

That Awkward Moment is an American film about three friends who all find themselves stuck in their respective romantic relationships, wondering whether there’s more to come or if it’s time to start anew.

While this film ultimately isn’t the world’s most hilarious or impressive romantic comedy, I have to say that it starts off with great promise, complete with three entertaining performances and a moderately unique take on the genre. As good as it is for the first half or so, though, the film does unfortunately descend into something a little more predictable and sappy, taking away the surprising energy and entertainment value it had at first.

Let’s start off on the bright side, with the fact that this isn’t your bog standard romantic comedy right the way through. Following three young men all hitting a point in their lives where they start to question the relationships they are in, as well as wonder whether or not they can go it alone without a partner, the film portrays the typical rom-com formula from a different perspective, with the main characters doing everything to avoid getting involved in a typical relationship.

Of course, Hollywood custom dictates that that can’t last forever, however the opening half of the movie, where we see the three all over the place with their plans and emotions, jumping in and out of relationships in a manic yet pleasingly grounded and believable manner.

Meanwhile, the three friends re-engage with each other as they share a common goal to avoid getting involved in a relationship, and the three leads in Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan are all great to watch. I can’t quite say that their chemistry is electric right the way through, and the moments in which we see the trio clashing are strangely more convincing than any moment showing the strength of their friendship.

Still, the three actors are all good fun throughout, with Efron in particular starring in a charming and entertaining role, with his strong charisma shining through once again alongside his excellent comedic ability.

In all truth, though, that’s about it for That Awkward Moment. Its first half is entertaining and a little different from the typical rom-com fare, but the remainder of the film sees the story take a disappointingly formulaic and predictable route to the finale, ending up in a rather sappy and far less enjoyable rut as we see the main characters inevitably get involved in their respective relationships that they’ve been trying to dodge all along.

If there were a little more focus on the emotional connection between the characters – both between the three friends and with their respective partners – then I would have been able to sympathise more with the inevitable in the third act.

However, the transition from fairly jokey rom-com to sappy romance in the third act is unconvincing and jarring, and it leads to annoying run to the finish where we lose the energy and entertainment value that was present in the first half of the movie.

Overall, then, I did enjoy That Awkward Moment to a degree, but it also proved somewhat of a disappointing watch as it fails to keep up a surprisingly enjoyable and unique take on the rom-com genre right the way through, which is why I’m giving it a 7.2.