Film Review: "That Awkward Moment" (2014).

"When you realize getting some means wanting more". This is That Awkward Moment. This bromantic comedy drama film written and directed by Tom Gormican, in his directorial debut. The film follows three best friends who find themselves where we've all been––at that confusing "moment" in every dating relationship when you have to decide "So...where is this going?"

The script was featured as one of the top comedy screenplays in the 2010 Hollywood Black List of best un-produced screenplays. The premise was inspired by Shakespeare's Love's Labour Lost. By mid December, Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Imogen Poots, Mackenzie Davis, Jessica Lucas, D. B. Woodside, Addison Timlin, Josh Pais, Emily Meade, and Alysia Reiner were cast. Deborah Ann Woll was originally attached to role of Vera before Lucas was eventually cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late January 2013. Filming took place throughout New York City, New York. In September 2013, the film's title changed to That Awkward Moment.

The film stars Efron, Teller, Jordan, Poots, Davis, Lucas, Woodside, Timlin, Pais, Meade, and Reiner. The oftentimes outrageous dialogue and vulgar exchanges between stars Efron, Teller and Jordan are both wildly hilarious and genuinely portrayed. The three leads has some of the best comic timing of anyone working in film today, a precocious sense of the awkward pauses and misread cues in which social panic resides. The comic-trio of Efron, Teller and Jordan reminded me of an immature, foul-mouthed The Three Stooges. Although the cop characters run out of steam a bit towards the end, the metrosexual relationship between the leads stays fresh all the way through. Brilliant.

An intelligent and occasionally insightful look at the sometimes funny place we call the male mind. Yes, the film is a man's story, so a certain perspective should be expected, and it's not the cheerful filth that bothers me, nor even the conventional morality; it's the paternalism. Honest goodwill, fond observational detail and Gormican's exuberant direction make the picture nigh on irresistible, but there are some missteps. The thing that saves the film from being a profane waste of time is its urbane intelligence and above all, bracing honesty. So bad that it's good, the film takes talking dirty on screen to a new level that will serve as shock treatment for some, and leave the rest in stitches. By turns funny and charming, heartfelt and horny, the film is a bromance comedy that understands the awesome power of awkward. If you can stand the predatory assumptions, which are that girls are mere sex objects to most men, there's much more to this movie than the usual bromance comedy. You can't help laughing even as you wince. It's a film that make other bromance films seem sophisticated, and it will have cultural critics shaking their heads and muttering about the death of Western civilization. I loved it. There are some excruciatingly funny moments but there are perhaps not as many laughs as you would hope for given the script's comedy pedigree.

Simon says That Awkward Moment receives: