LET’S NOT BE FRIENDS

Cole (Zac Efron) is an aspiring DJ trying to work his way up in the electronic music world. But it looks like he mostly gets stuck playing small house parties — that is, until he meets James (Wes Bentley), an older, more accomplished musician. But he also meets James’ girlfriend Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski), leading to a love triangle that could complicate his budding career. Clocking in at more than three minutes, the trailer alone feels too long and seems to try to combine too many different tones. We’re not sure how that will bode for the film.

We Are Your Friends opens in wide release Aug. 28.

JAIMIE: Is this … for real? Uh, I can’t even find the right words right now. Zac Efron with his strangely distracting bulging pecs aside, it felt like this trailer would never end. In fact, I kinda stopped watching it.

PAIGE: OH MY GOD, this is the “but what if Zac Efron was Skrillex?” movie I didn’t know I wanted.

NICOLE: This seems to be really scientific. Beats per minute? Is it really like this? I have no idea what DJing is like, but this is insane.

JAIMIE: What? Am I the only one who thought this movie was just a bunch of Millennial drivel mixed with a whole lot of confusing? The trailer needed to end before it started.

CHRISTINA: I feel like parts of the trailer, especially the beginning, were like some older person being like, “This is what the youths are into now.” It all just felt very … fake? Off-base? To have the characters make some grand generational statement about how their life is going to be “different” and then having their big rebellion being DJing at parties didn’t sit right with me.

JAIMIE: This whole trailer doesn’t sit right with me.

CHRISTINA: I know nothing about DJing, but I am pretty sure every DJ who watches this trailer will be offended by how he is like, “You just need some talent and one track.”

PAIGE: The trailer doesn’t make this movie look very good. But I present this evidence to you: Zac Efron as a DJ. I am intrigued, a tiny bit.

JAIMIE: I am never intrigued by Efron. He’s one of those people who needs to silently disappear from films or entertainment in general. The end.

PAIGE: I will admit that the trailer itself lost me somewhere in the middle, when I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a comedy or a coming-of-age story or a serious discussion about the mechanics of EDM and the party scene. My mind wandered. I admired Efron’s arms. So I think that directionless, tonally confused aspect may harm the final product.

NICOLE: I agree with Paige about Efron’s arms. No normal person would wear tank tops as they run through Vegas nightlife.

CHRISTINA: Everyone needs to see Efron in The Paperboy. He actually gives a solid performance.

JAIMIE: NO, I don’t believe you. Efron is… Cardboard.

PAIGE: I am fond of him. My sister was a big fan of High School Musical and I have retained an inordinate fondness for both him and Vanessa Hudgens.

JAIMIE: The trailer was confusing. This entire conversation was confusing. I was certain that everyone would be anti-Efron with me. WHAT IS GOING ON?

JAMES: This feels like an unofficial sequel to Neighbors After that movie wrapped, Efron was all, “Oh no! It’s close to midnight and my arms are shriveling up! The spell is wearing off! Quick, I need another movie!”