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 relationships. google

There are some weeks months where it just all gets too much for me and I succumb to bad habits like ice cream straight from the tub, cereal for dinner or watching lightweight movies. That last one is a better option for my waistline.

So no one get their knickers in a twist, but I saw this…and I enjoyed it. If you think I should be reviewing more ‘worthy’ movies, build a bridge.

The trio at the centre of the film are played by three charismatic young stars – Zac Efron is Jason, Miles Teller (Footloose, The Spectacular Now) is Daniel and Michael B. Jordan (Friday Night Lights, The Wire) is Mikey. They dress well, live in New York, are not shabby to look at and lead the standard wish-fulfillment lives that characters in wish fulfillment movies usually do – creative and/or moneyed. But, as you might have surmised by now, they are not the usual protagonists. They are male.

Tom Gormican, first time director, also wrote the script and he has made a solid attempt to turn the dreaded romcom on its head. It’s not Shakespeare – although it is inspired by Love’s Labours Lost, probably, but it is entertaining for a couple of hours away from real world pressures. Gormican is clearly aware of the wish fulfillment idea as Jason and Daniel even discuss it in relation to the book cover they are designing for a chick-lit author.

But is this what guys wish for? I don’t know. If I was a guy I think I would wish for a wingman like Mackenzie Davis (smart and cool) or a crush like Imogen Poots (intelligent, awkwardly gorgeous hipster) – but do they?

Does this film add anything to the sum of human knowledge? No, but it is interesting (speaking as the usual target demographic for romcoms) to see a different take on a stock genre. With the blanket condemnations that romcoms receive in the media I do wonder why Hollywood continues to make them. How does a first time director get backing for this if they are such a bad idea? I must not be the only person who considers them a guilty treat.

There are some awkwardly enjoyable moments – like when the prolonged effects of Viagra result in Jason and Daniel having to lie across toilet bowls to pee, as they talk on their mobile phones. There is a lot of discussion of penises, but not nearly as much as in the Hangover franchise. There is a reasonable amount of sex (unless you are the girls from Sex And The City) and there is an exploration of the vagaries of human relationships – but it’s not Love Actually.

However it is not a bad effort for a first time director.

The only person I feel sorry for is Zac Efron (work with me). He has been trying different roles to get away from his pretty boy, pin up reputation. Some good, some forgettable. He has also been trying out some different screen personas (others would say he was attempting to act). Here he is trying for lothario/confused/emotionally closed off but just comes across as not anywhere near as interesting as his pals – he is out-acted by Miles Teller’s eyebrow alone. He is not a great actor but he has star quality and he should let it shine.

Ros saw this film as a guest of Limelight Cinemas.