We Are Your Friends review: A well-rounded drama that engrosses from the off without really hitting any bum-notes along the way.
We Are Your Friends review
We Are Your Friends is a new drama based around aspiring DJ Cole Carter (Zac Efron), and his group of friends; a gang of twenty-somethings living life to the full. Set in the San Fernando Valley, which the film tells us is famous for its intense heat, the porn industry and the best sushi in town, We Are Your Friends is a tale of forbidden love and finding the right path in life. The film is directed by Max Joseph, who is mostly known for his work on the TV series Catfish, along with Nev Schulman. He makes his feature-directing debut with We Are Your Friends, and also co-wrote the screenplay with Meaghan Oppenheimer.
We Are Your Friends review
While revolving around the lifestyle of a talented local DJ and musician, is also about friendship, love and temptation. It’s brilliantly paced and has some really great acting talent on display. Efron is superb as the film’s lead, a more serious role for the young actor following comedic stints on Bad Neighbours and That Awkward Moment. He is backed up by a great supporting cast, including Emily Ratajkowski, who follows up her solid turn in David Fincher’s Gone Girl last year and a major role, playing herself, in this year’s Entourage movie. Ratajkowski delivers depth to her character of Sophie, the ‘forbidden fruit’ for Efron’s character, and the girlfriend/ assistant of superstar DJ James, played by the always-brilliant Wes Bentley. Bently superbly plays the troubled, ageing alcoholic DJ, who take’s Efron’s Cole under his wing to develop his raw talent into something great. There’s also an appearance from the mighty Jon Bernthal, who plays a slimey real-estate guy; the actor’s second surprisingly-good, very off-type appearance in a smaller-budgeted film this year (he also appears in the upcoming Me and Earl and The Dying Girl).
We Are Your Friends review
Joseph’s debut is a likeable film, and a different kind of movie from producers Working Title, who deliver a well-rounded romantic drama that engrosses from the off without hitting any bum-notes along the way. The film does suffer from slight pacing problems, but, with the film’s slender running-time of just 96 minutes, isn’t really an issue.
We Are Your Friends is probably one of those films that viewers will either love or hate. It’s not a bad movie, and it isn’t a great one either, but we really liked what was on offer. Joseph has a distinct style that some may not warm to, but I liked its slightly offbeat tone; the well-thought-out animated moments during a drug-trip early on; it’s guerilla-style moments in Las Vegas and the two central performances from Efron and Ratajkoswi; both of whom’s presence will ensure that this is probably the prettiest, nicest looking movie of the summer so far.
A late-summer movie that is more chill than thrill, but a decent film all the same.
We Are Your Friends review by Paul Heath, August 2015.
We Are Your Friends is released in UK cinemas from Thursday 27th August. It is now playing in cinemas across North America.
