THAT AWKWARD MOMENT (Rated R)

Sometimes you get an awkward feeling when viewing certain kinds of movies. That happened to me when, against my better judgment, I attended screenings for both of the “Sex and the City” films, an experience I would prefer to forget.

Well, that same sense of discomfort came back again when viewing “That Awkward Moment,” but for different reasons. The ostensible press screening was packed with young females who appeared to be sorority sisters from either UCLA or USC.

Mind you, that’s a much nicer and prettier audience than the usual gaggle of wrinkled old film critics who are largely cynical about everything, particularly any movie starring Zac Efron, the apparent darling of young women.

The awkward part is that many jokes involving the male anatomy are a big part of “That Awkward Moment,” whether it is the crudely funny effects of Viagra for healthy 20-something playboys or one character’s most inappropriate “costume” for a cocktail party attended by his girlfriend’s parents.

“That Awkward Moment” is a flimsy, almost innocuous comedy, unless, of course, you factor in the all-too-often crude anatomical references that make one wonder if Judd Apatow or the “Hangover” crew were involved.

The premise is also relatively thin. The story is about three buddies in Manhattan who make a pact to remain unattached, opting instead for an endless string of meaningless one-night stands.

The motivating element for this agreement is that young doctor Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) has just been blindsided by his wife Vera’s (Jessica Lucas) affair and request for a divorce.

Mikey’s best friends, Jason (Zac Efron) and Daniel (Miles Teller), are carefree bachelors who believe that the best way to deal with this betrayal is to avoid romantic commitments, and so they agree not to fall for any woman.

That’s easier for Jason and Daniel, both of whom work at a publishing house designing book covers, because they are essentially self-centered louts who hang out at bars and remain constantly on the prowl for easy pick-ups.

Of the three, the biggest player is Jason, because after all he’s played by Zac Efron, who has the good looks for the part and may come off as slightly vulnerable to a prospective partner even though he is far from it.

Daniel is the most animated of the bunch, talking a good game with a breezy patter, but mostly he’s helped by Chelsea (Mackenzie Davis), his apparent “wingman” on the social scene, guiding a few eligible women his way.

Reluctant to return to the dating game, Mikey may have the best chance to remain uncommitted, but this is complicated by mixed signals from Vera, who may be having second thoughts about her romantic entanglement with her divorce lawyer.

The best laid plans of mice and men often get derailed. The promise to avoid commitments at all costs and to stay single together is quickly strained to the breaking point. There’s something vaguely Shakespearean about the unfolding deceptions.

Funny enough, director Tom Gormican observed that the inspiration for his comedy came from Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” where a group of guys swear off women but then they all meet girls and they start lying to each other about it.

Aside from Mikey pining for getting back with Vera, Jason, the most unlikely of the trio to commit to anyone, meets the girls of his dreams in Ellie (Imogen Poots), though his initial hookup is that of a one-night stand that ends badly.

After meeting Ellie at his favorite bar, Jason later mistakenly believes she’s a hooker, a not unwarranted view considering that a box of condoms and an envelope full of cash sit in plain view on top of her nightstand. So he slinks away in the early morning.

Imagine Jason’s surprise when Ellie shows up a few days later for a pitch meeting at his office. She’s a potential client and he’s got egg on his face. What’s more, she’s sweet, smart and sexy, an irresistible combination for any sentient young professional guy.

For a guy trying to avoid commitment, Jason goes out of his way to try to repair the self-inflicted wounds on what was a budding relationship. And Daniel is finding it harder to keep his friend Chelsea at a safe distance.

In the end, there’s nothing terribly original about “That Awkward Moment,” a standard fare, but somewhat crude, romantic comedy where the scenery of Manhattan is more than a supporting player.

“That Awkward Moment” has its share of humor, though often the jokes are awkward, and yet there is a feeling that a better movie could have been realized.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.