On Monday, February 10, 2014
That Awkward Moment
In support of a friend devastated by a recent breakup, three guys vow to maintain their single status for as long as possible. The plan gets derailed when they each fall in love and have to secretly work around their pledge to bachelorhood, while trying to figure out the complications of modern day … More
Initial release: January 31, 2014 (USA)
Director: Tom Gormican
Running time: 94 minutes
Music composed by: David Torn
Cast: Zac Efron
Genres: Romance Film, Comedy, Romantic comedy
The film opens with Jason (Zac Efron) sitting on a bench in New York City waiting for someone to arrive. A voiceover explains that he has been waiting for a long time, but to explain why, he needs to go back to the beginning. Jason begins by telling the audience that every relationship reaches the "So…" moment, where someone in the relationship will want to take the relationship to a more serious place. At that point, Jason knows the relationship is over, as he is not ready to start dating. Jason is currently working with his best friend Daniel (Miles Teller) at a publishing house, designing book covers. Their friend, Mikey (Michael B. Jordan), a young doctor who has been married to Vera (Jessica Lucas) since the end of college, comes to them after Vera requests a divorce. The three decide to go out to the bar to celebrate being single. The group meets up with Daniel's female wingman, Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), as they try to get Mikey's mind off of his wife. Mikey meets a girl with glasses (Kate Simses), while Jason meets Ellie (Imogen Poots), and hits it off with her after teasing another man that was trying to buy her a drink. Mikey gets the girl's number, but decides not to call, resolving to work it out with his wife. Jason sleeps with Ellie, but escapes her apartment when he discovers circumstantial evidence that she may be a prostitute.
The next day, Jason and Daniel make a book cover pitch to a new author, who happens to be Ellie. Jason is able to explain himself and the two begin seeing each other on a regular basis, even teaming up to sneak into Gramercy Park after stealing a key to it by posing as potential residents of the neighborhood. Meanwhile, Daniel begins to fall for his wingman, Chelsea, and the two begin seeing one another. Additionally, Mikey meets with his estranged wife, and when she claims that the reason their marriage fell apart is because he is not spontaneous enough, Mikey kisses her, and the two sleep together in the hospital, reigniting their romance. All three friends attempt to keep their relationships a secret, due to their earlier agreement that they would stay single. The relationships all come to a head during Thanksgiving, a time that the three friends usually spend together, but varying circumstances keep them apart. Jason agrees to attend a funeral for Ellie's recently passed father, Mikey plans a Thanksgiving dinner with his wife, and Daniel attends the traditional Thanksgiving feast with Chelsea, free to openly tell the guests about their relationship.
However, Jason ultimately decides not to attend the funeral, not ready to fully commit to Ellie, and their relationship falls apart. Mikey has a serious conversation with his wife during their dinner, causing her admit that she no longer loves him. Jason and Mikey head to the dinner where they discover Daniel's relationship with Chelsea, and when he denies that they are dating, his relationship falls apart as well. Although the three fight about keeping their relationships secret, they repair their friendship and try to recover their relationships. Mikey calls glasses girl from the bar, setting up a date, and Daniel reunites with Chelsea after being hit by a taxi and ending up in the hospital. However, two months later, Jason has still not reconciled with Ellie, despite still being in love with her. Mike and Daniel help Jason by encouraging him to tell her of his love at her weekly book readings, which are sparsely attended. However, upon their arrival, the reading is packed with people and Jason is unable to figure out a way to talk with her. He decides to make a scene by improvising a book reading, referencing their first meeting and requesting that they start over by meeting in Gramercy Park.
The film reverts to the beginning scene, where Jason is waiting for Ellie in Gramercy Park. Ellie arrives and sits on the bench with him, where Jason starts their talk, beginning with, "So…"
Cast[edit]
Zac Efron as Jason
Miles Teller as Daniel
Michael B. Jordan as Mikey
Imogen Poots as Ellie
Mackenzie Davis as Chelsea
Jessica Lucas as Vera
Addison Timlin as Alana
Emily Meade as Christy
Josh Pais as Fred
John Rothman as Chelsea's Father
Tina Benko as Ellie's Mom
Victor Slezak as Older Gentleman
Kate Simses as Glasses
Alysia Reiner as Amanda
Dan Bittner as Preppy Guy
Evelina Turen as Sophie
Release[edit]
In June 2013, the U.S. distribution rights for That Awkward Moment were acquired by FilmDistrict with a wide release set for January 31, 2014.[10] Because of a transition of FilmDistrict properties to Focus Features, That Awkward Moment was later absorbed by the reconstituted Focus Features for its January 2014 release.[11]
The first red band trailer was released on October 14, 2013.[12]
Critical response[edit]
The film has received negative reviews. Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of a 23% with an average rating of 4.1/10 based on reviews from 110 critics. The consensus states: "Formulaic and unfunny, 'That Awkward Moment' wastes a charming cast on a contrived comedy that falls short of the date movies it seems to be trying to subvert."[13] On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 based on reviews from critics, the film has a score of 36 based on 33 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[14]
References[edit]
