‘We Are Your Friends' is generic, but with a beat

“Are we ever gonna be better than this?” Cole Carter (Zac Efron) entreats his hyped, pulsating crowd.

“We Are Your Friends,” directed by Max Joseph, isn’t quite sure of the answer to that question. But, as an audience, you wish that this promising, but generic film were better than this. “We Are Your Friends” injects a throbbing beat and fresh style into a classic coming-of-age tale, but all the electronic dance music and formal experimentation can’t keep it out of the mire of a well-worn narrative.

The title “We Are Your Friends” is a curious one too, because with friends like these -run as far away as possible. In fairness, Cole, an aspiring DJ, is trying to do just that. One night he crashes a party with legendary DJ James Reed (Wes Bentley), which sends everything topsy-turvy, but soaring into the world on top of the hill, out of the valley.

James takes him on as a protégé, though matters are complicated by James’ irresistible girlfriend Sophie (Emily Ratajkowski), on whom Cole harbors a burning crush. Nevertheless, the trio manages to work it out until the inevitable molly-enhanced Vegas rave roll in the hay complicates things even further. Will Cole get the gig at Summerfest? Will Sophie work it out with alcoholic James? Can Cole’s buddies keep up this rate of partying?

You can probably hazard a guess at how it all works out.

There are some pseudo class struggle themes awkwardly shoveled in to make it seem topical, but also to inspire some sympathy for Sophie and Cole.

Director Max Joseph offers up an energetic take on the material to bring the thumping electronic music to cinematic life.

Unfortunately, it’s when the music stops that the film’s originality does too.