The year is only a month old and we already have our first critically mauled A-list movie. That Awkward Moment has had some of the nastiest reviews of the year. The New York Times called it "a vile, witless sex comedy", while the Los Angeles Times gets academic, saying that the film is about "how passing off misogyny for comedy has gotten so terribly passé, as insulting to the guys as to the women". Read our That Awkward Moment review.

That Awkward MomentMiles Teller [L], Michael B. Jordan [center] and Zac Efron [R] in 'That Awkward Moment'

But does the audience listen to what the critics say when their favourite stars are in the movie? This one stars heartthrobs Zac Efron and Michael B. Jordan along with everyman Miles Teller. All three have been in much more critically acclaimed films in the past year (The Paperboy, Fruitvale Station and The Spectacular Now, respectively), so studio execs will be watching the box office results closely.

But perhaps the real question shouldn't be whether studios can trick audiences into buying tickets to bad films, but rather why they can't be bothered to make a decent film to begin with? It doesn't actually cost any more to have a solid script that has witty humour, engaging characters and genuine emotional connections between them. With such a likeable cast, this film certainly had the rest of the ingredients lined up. Audiences need to let the studios know that they need to do better.

Watch the trailer for That Awkward Moment: (warning, red-band)