Give writer/director Tom Gormican credit. He managed to grab 3 young actors before 2 become megastars and one becomes socially irrelevant. That Awkward Moment masquerades as an R rated romantic comedy, but lacks the punch that other good R rated comedies have. However, the drama is solid enough in parts to hold the viewer’s attention and root for the endings Gormican clearly wants for his trio.
That Awkward Moment focuses on 3 college buddies living in New York City. Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) just found out his wife Vera (Jessica Lucas) was cheating on him and turns to his two friends Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller) for support. The three make a pact to stay single until Mikey gets back on his feet; of course, that pact falls apart almost immediately. Mikey tries to rekindle things with his ex; Daniel starts developing feelings for his wingwoman Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis); and Jason has a one night stand with Ellie (Imogen Poots) only to realize that their relationship should be more than casual.
The comedy in That Awkward Moment feels like it was edgy twenty years ago, relying on bad words for punch lines. The jokes feel like they were meant to be thrown at the audience as fast as possible, so any lapse from a bad one would soon be forgotten. The best jokes in That Awkward Moment revolve around specificity. Daniel cannot perform in bed because of Chelsea’s teddy bear from an ex-boyfriend, Jason’s cocktail punchline at a dress-up party, or Mikey’s self tanner mistake. When the joke provides context or specificity instead of a cheap out, That Awkward Moment delivers; however, these instances are few and far between.
The dramatic arcs of the relationships are the strength of That Awkward Moment. The Jason/Ellie courtship is the strongest, since there is no previous history and we get to see their relationship unfold onscreen. Both parties make mistakes, both are understanding, both are cute together. Illogical decision-making almost derails rooting interest, but the hurt Jason feels not being with Ellie feels earned and leaves the audience rooting for their rekindling. Daniel/Chelsea is cute as well; because their chemistry is evident immediately, this pairing wisely gets less screen time since the arc is simpler. The natural charm of Daniel carries this story to its conclusion, which is resolved as quickly as it comes together. The Mikey/Vera arc gets the short end of the stick. That Awkward Moment posits that this arc is the counter to Jason and Daniel, that things can come apart as quickly as they come together. However, this story lacks the complexity it deserves right from the get go, since it is fairly obvious that cheaters cheat again in this world. That Awkward Moment does not say anything new about modern relationships, but 2/3 of the stories use the charm and abilities of the young stars to give audiences what they want.
Zac Efron must have gotten the memo. His career has stalled since he left the Disney Channel, and his co-stars Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller are about to shoot right past him into superstardom. Efron is the strongest here; his comedic timing needs work, but his relationship with Imogen Poots sizzles in the most adorable way. Efron might not be the next big thing, but he could definitely lead romantic comedies if he desires. Miles Teller has mastered the fast-talker role in a friendship. His jokes land more than not due to the overconfident persona he has crafted for himself. He an Mackenzie Davis are fine together, but part of me wished that they just made Teller be the happy single one so he could carry the comedy himself. Michael B. Jordan will use this movie as his asterisk on his way to the top. He is woefully underdeveloped and underused here.
That Awkward Moment, like its soundtrack, feels like an old-fashioned romantic comedy trying to be something edgier and more modern. It is cute, harmless, and will make young men and women swoon if they are into the saccharine world of movie romance. That Awkward Moment also contains some of the best use of New York City outside of a Woody Allen Movie. I get the city’s appeal now; it looks so exciting.