Movies

Life has had ‘Awkward’ moments for the film’s stars

In the movie, they may endure a lot of awkwardness. But in real life, the stars of “That Awkward Moment,” the new male-centric rom-com in theaters today, are some of the buzziest young actors around: Zac Efron, 25, of “High School Musical” and tabloid fame who’s reinventing himself as a comedy king; Michael B. Jordan, 26, one of last year’s biggest breakouts with “Fruitvale Station”; and Miles Teller, 26, whose value has risen after a lauded turn in “The Spectactular Now” and an upcoming part in the “Divergent” franchise.

But how did so many buzzy actors end up in one movie?

“I mean, we couldn’t have done a better job,” says first-time director Tom Gormican of the casting. “Each of the guys has this amazing super power.”

Riding in a party bus while on their press tour, Gormican’s guys excitedly talk over one another, interjecting with bro jokes and pats on the back.

“A romantic comedy is a really hard way to describe this movie,” says Efron. “I would say it’s hilarious and it has romantic elements, but this is also a very kind of dramatic, unique examination of life from a guy’s perspective of how it is [dating] right now.”

Set in New York, “That Awkward Moment” positions each of its leads in a different difficult relationship situation. Jordan’s character is holding onto the past, Teller’s is somewhere in the friend zone, and Efron’s doesn’t know how to grow up.

Efron with director Tom Gormican.Focus Features

“In the modern day, rom-com isn’t what it used to be,” says Imogen Poots, who stars as Efron’s love interest in the film. “I loved being part of something that was relevant and that was now.”

Turns out, the guys can all relate, too — the stars have had their fair share of awkward moments and dating mishaps. Efron recalls the time he wooed a girl by dressing up in drag and singing “These Boots Are Made For Walkin” with his buddies.

“It was one of the highlights of my young life,” he says, with a laugh. “I got the girl.”

They’ve also dealt with the same day modern complications — Teller admits he’s guilty of Facebook stalking.

“Yeah, I’m a big fan of spring break,” he says of his favorite type of Facebook photos. “That’s a nice time of year.”

Jordan adds, “Not on Facebook, but I have Twitter-stalked a girl. How you gonna tweet and not text [me back]?”

“I’m usually just running away,” says Efron.

The guys also say the film forced them to look inward about their own relationships.

“I learned sometimes you can want something to work so bad, but at the end of the day, it takes two people to be in a relationship,” says Jordan. “Sometimes you grow together and sometimes you grow apart.”

Teller, the most mischievous of the three, maybe has a little more growing to do.

“What I learned is women get turned on by how you handle their family, especially around the holidays,” he says. “So you can earn a lot of brownie points by hanging with her grandma. You can later cash those brownie points in for sexual favors.”