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There doesn’t seem to be any definitive awkward moment in “That Awkward Moment,” a long-delayed rom-com formerly titled “Are We Officially Dating?” There are, however, many awkward moments sprinkled in, such as when buddies Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller) have to pee horizontally after taking too much Viagra, and when Jason mistakes a “dress-up” party as one where it’s appropriate to dangle a sex toy out of his open fly.
While it works for the occasional naughty laugh, the focus on male genitalia is indicative of what’s fundamentally wrong with “That Awkward Moment,” a thinly-veiled misogynist fantasy. Written and directed by Tom Gormican, the movie wants to channel the spirit of John Hughes; however, it forgets that Hughes never made his female characters mere prizes his male characters deserved (if anything, Hughes often did the reverse). Roommates Jason, Daniel, and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) all vow to stay single in the wake of Mikey’s breakup, but wind up falling for their respective friends-with-benefits nonetheless.
The film has good intentions, aiming to show that the bro-ish desire for zero attachment is usually a lie lotharios tell themselves. All it ends up being, however, is a toxic tutorial for young men going through stages of non-development, learning that monogamy has its virtues, but only insofar as what it means for their control over the girls they supposedly love.
Remaining secretive about their vow violations, Jason and Daniel bond quickly with Ellie (Imogen Poots) and Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), while Mikey rekindles his romance with his young wife Vera (Jessica Lucas). Succumbing to the admittedly ample charms of their dates, Ellie and Chelsea are wooed with ease, and when they’re wronged in a climax that leaves the boys assessing love’s demands, it takes precious little for them to be back in the arms of the men who “deserve” them.
Only Vera, who cheats on Mikey, is given true agency, and she’s basically painted as a villain. The film constantly suggests the right girl will always be waiting if the right pick-up lines are mastered.
That Awkward Moment
R
One-and-a-half reels out of four
Opens tomorrow at area theaters
Recommended Rental
Cutie and the Boxer
R
Available Tuesday
A newly-minted Oscar nominee for Best Documentary Feature, “Cutie and the Boxer” follows the warm, yet eccentric, lives of Ushio and Noriko Shinohara, a New York couple who’ve been married for 40 years and developed a reputation in the city’s art scene. Director Zachary Heinzerling intimately captures “boxing painter” Ushio’s unique work, as well as the wants of loyal Noriko, who’s stood by in the shadows and aches to define herself.
Contact the South Philly Review at editor@southphillyreview.com.
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