Spin Doctor

We Are Your Friends

‘Coming of Age’ film definition: the emotional and/or moral growth of usually a male protagonist in his mid-teens or early twenties. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I was able to spot a coming of age story a mile away. I partially feel that my generation invented the subgenre due in large part of the, now classic, films that came about during my youth. Not only did the 80s produce The Breakfast Club and Ferris Buller’s Day Off, it also gave the world Sixteen Candles and Dead Poets Society. The 90s took it one step further and centered a whole TV show around the concept (The Wonder Years). Unfortunately for the subgenre, coming of age films have become a dime a dozen and it is hard for movie goers to differentiate between the mass quantities of them. Warner Bros. this year has taken a gamble on a small coming of age film titled We Are Your Friends.

Inspiring DJ Cole Carter (Zac Efron Neighbors) seems to think that if he can just produce one amazing song, then everything will fall into place. Cole also seems to struggle with producing said song. Though, things take an unlikely turn for Cole when he meets James Reed (Wes Bentley Interstellar), fellow DJ who is quite successful. Seeing potential in Cole, James decides to mentor Cole and help him create a track. Cole must dig deep within himself to find what moves him in order to move the crowds.

Coming of Age Checklist:

Sympathetic Hero: Check

Forbidden Love Interest: Check

Mentor: Check

Friends that anchor hero to past life: Check

Coming to Jesus moment: Check

Is this film full of clichés? Yes, yes it is. But let me ask you one question. Who doesn’t like a good coming of age story? The film isn’t going to break new ground as far as the subgenre goes, but it still provides a feel good story and at least a slightly different take. Friends gives audiences decent performances and an intriguing soundtrack.

Efron has taken yet another stride away from High School Musical. Here Efron is able to make Cole instantly likeable, but doesn’t really do much more than that. The rest of the cast is just as cookie cutter. I know it sounds like I am downing the cast, but I didn’t find anything remarkable about them. The only group I really could complain about is Cole’s friends. Why did we need them? One out of three really had any purpose to the film.

I would like to give praise to first time director Max Joseph. Joseph was able to give the film a unique look as far as his use of the camera. Borderline music video and documentary, Joseph gives the film a very Millennial feel along with a California suburb vibe.  Joseph also does a spectacular job of integrating the music into the film, where it seemed at times that the music was really the heartbeat of the film. I won’t be surprised if we hear more from Max Joseph.

Good music and a decent story make We Are Your Friends a good film to relax to on a Saturday night when Redbox seems to be your best option. That is if you don’t expect to see magic happen on screen.

The Verdict: Watch On Blu-Ray