100 Bewertungen
After watching "Bridesmaids" earlier this year, I was actually quite surprised to see a film that I usually would have flagged as a "chick flick" make me laugh and leave the theatre thinking I just watched an overall quality comedy. I always found that Hollywood liked keeping this stereotypical division between these "raunchy guy comedies" and "corny chick flicks".
The one point I'm trying to make here is that, usually, raunchy comedies feature male characters as the leads, and the female characters usually either serve as the opposing party to typical stories of bromance, or as the "background bimbos". But, after a while, as in any movie sub-genre or trend, clichés keep coming back again and again, the same faces play the same roles in movies that are basically carbon copies of one another, and, quite simply, it gets a tad old and the competent releases among that sub-genre become a rarity.
But what if these old clichés could be completely rejuvenated if the mold was turned upside down, and female characters became the leads? Well, trust me, this film is no corny romantic comedy, the clichés one would expect to see in a chick flick are absolutely nowhere to be found. Think of a cross between "American Pie" and "Superbad", with even dirtier dialogue, morals, and situations...with female characters as the leads.
The film starts with quite a crafty opening credits sequence, which quickly lets you know that you're being brought back to the early nineties (1993 to be exact). And, throughout the film, this nineties feeling is very well kept alive, with the sets, the costumes, and such. Good job on that.
One could argue that every character is super stereotyped. That is absolutely true. And that's probably the biggest trick that "The To Do List" is able to pull off : The situations through which the characters go embrace their stereotypical nature while constantly pushing both the limits of good taste/morals and of what you've previously seen in similar movies. "The To Do List" is not trying to reinvent the wheel. No. But it's definitely trying to push the limits in many regards. Where "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" got a bit sanctimonious at times, this film ends up stating that sex can just be a casual thing and should be enjoyed as exactly that. Where "Superbad" pulled its punches when it came to teenagers experimenting, "The To Do List" unleashed a flurry of hay makers.
And I'm not taking anything away from these two movies, I loved them both. All I am saying is, "The To Do List" qualifies amongst even the cruder comedies, and surpasses them several times in that department.
That's not the only trick it has up its sleeve though. Narrative structure is clever, with check-boxes appearing every time one of the "tasks" is accomplished. The dialogue is top-notch and constantly drew major laughter from the crowd. The cast is impressive, and features a couple of uproarious cameos.
"The To Do List" is quality entertainment that does deserve its heavy R rating. In the same vein as "American Pie", "Superbad", and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", this film definitely doesn't bring anything properly new, but it does innovate by reversing the mold and putting female characters as the leads. To think the result would be toned down because of that single detail would be foolish, and just like "Bridesmaids" did, "The To Do List" reminds us of that. To be quite honest, I found it kind of refreshing. Add competent direction, a solid cast, and neat dialogue, and you've got a good comedy that's definitely not for kids, but that both men and women will find hilarious.
The one point I'm trying to make here is that, usually, raunchy comedies feature male characters as the leads, and the female characters usually either serve as the opposing party to typical stories of bromance, or as the "background bimbos". But, after a while, as in any movie sub-genre or trend, clichés keep coming back again and again, the same faces play the same roles in movies that are basically carbon copies of one another, and, quite simply, it gets a tad old and the competent releases among that sub-genre become a rarity.
But what if these old clichés could be completely rejuvenated if the mold was turned upside down, and female characters became the leads? Well, trust me, this film is no corny romantic comedy, the clichés one would expect to see in a chick flick are absolutely nowhere to be found. Think of a cross between "American Pie" and "Superbad", with even dirtier dialogue, morals, and situations...with female characters as the leads.
The film starts with quite a crafty opening credits sequence, which quickly lets you know that you're being brought back to the early nineties (1993 to be exact). And, throughout the film, this nineties feeling is very well kept alive, with the sets, the costumes, and such. Good job on that.
One could argue that every character is super stereotyped. That is absolutely true. And that's probably the biggest trick that "The To Do List" is able to pull off : The situations through which the characters go embrace their stereotypical nature while constantly pushing both the limits of good taste/morals and of what you've previously seen in similar movies. "The To Do List" is not trying to reinvent the wheel. No. But it's definitely trying to push the limits in many regards. Where "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" got a bit sanctimonious at times, this film ends up stating that sex can just be a casual thing and should be enjoyed as exactly that. Where "Superbad" pulled its punches when it came to teenagers experimenting, "The To Do List" unleashed a flurry of hay makers.
And I'm not taking anything away from these two movies, I loved them both. All I am saying is, "The To Do List" qualifies amongst even the cruder comedies, and surpasses them several times in that department.
That's not the only trick it has up its sleeve though. Narrative structure is clever, with check-boxes appearing every time one of the "tasks" is accomplished. The dialogue is top-notch and constantly drew major laughter from the crowd. The cast is impressive, and features a couple of uproarious cameos.
"The To Do List" is quality entertainment that does deserve its heavy R rating. In the same vein as "American Pie", "Superbad", and "The 40-Year-Old Virgin", this film definitely doesn't bring anything properly new, but it does innovate by reversing the mold and putting female characters as the leads. To think the result would be toned down because of that single detail would be foolish, and just like "Bridesmaids" did, "The To Do List" reminds us of that. To be quite honest, I found it kind of refreshing. Add competent direction, a solid cast, and neat dialogue, and you've got a good comedy that's definitely not for kids, but that both men and women will find hilarious.
I think the reason so many people disliked this flick was because they went in with the wrong expectations. You hear about a teen sex comedy staring women and immediately people assume something more sophisticated and classy would be the by product.
This is not that movie.
This film is both dry and ludicrous, crass and hilarious.
Aubrey Plaza's one note characters fit this movie well.
What I liked most about the flick was that it finally gave a voice to the sexually confused teenage GIRL population. The movie was written and directed by a woman, and it's pretty clear when you're watching.
TL;DR:
It's not an Oscar winner, but it's funny. It's a very progressive movie in the sense that it reverses the normal teen comedy gender stereotypes and gives the audience an unfiltered and unashamed (however hyperbolic) look at female sexuality, insecurities and intricacies.
NOT FOR KIDS.
This is not that movie.
This film is both dry and ludicrous, crass and hilarious.
Aubrey Plaza's one note characters fit this movie well.
What I liked most about the flick was that it finally gave a voice to the sexually confused teenage GIRL population. The movie was written and directed by a woman, and it's pretty clear when you're watching.
TL;DR:
It's not an Oscar winner, but it's funny. It's a very progressive movie in the sense that it reverses the normal teen comedy gender stereotypes and gives the audience an unfiltered and unashamed (however hyperbolic) look at female sexuality, insecurities and intricacies.
NOT FOR KIDS.
"The To-Do List" is an entirely raunchy, breezy coming-of-age comedy that is anchored with a solid, fearless performance by Aubrey Plaza.
It's an "American Pie" race-to-lose-your-virginity tale that is not only surprisingly sweet, and at times smart, but also pleasantly positive about sex - filtered through a unique female voice and fresh perspective on age- old genre tropes. It's free of the snickering, juvenile gross-out attitudes of the "Pie" films.
The film is uneven, wanders a bit, and sometimes plays like a series of SNL sketches than a full-on film, but is, on occasion, laugh-out-loud funny.
It should get some more love and attention when it arrives on home video & PPV where it is sure to gain a word-of-mouth following.
It's an "American Pie" race-to-lose-your-virginity tale that is not only surprisingly sweet, and at times smart, but also pleasantly positive about sex - filtered through a unique female voice and fresh perspective on age- old genre tropes. It's free of the snickering, juvenile gross-out attitudes of the "Pie" films.
The film is uneven, wanders a bit, and sometimes plays like a series of SNL sketches than a full-on film, but is, on occasion, laugh-out-loud funny.
It should get some more love and attention when it arrives on home video & PPV where it is sure to gain a word-of-mouth following.
- britishdominion
- 20. Aug. 2013
- Permalink
I don't know why this movie has so much hate here, after binging 3-4 movies a day for weeks, this is one of the funnier comedy movies that I've come across on Netflix.
First off the cast is amazing, with Aubrey Plaza (parks and rec), bill Hader, Christopher Mintz, Andy Samberg (Brooklyn 99, lonely Island, hot rod, etc), Donald Glover, and Clark Gregg to name a few. I kept being surprised I'd never heard of this movie.
The jokes are solid, yes it's vulgar, and it's purely sex jokes, but they're done well and I found myself laughing quite a few times. Not one of my favourite movies but definitely enjoyable and worth a watch.
- wilhelmdanielg
- 7. Dez. 2020
- Permalink
Role reversal!
Never before do I recall seeing a teenage sex comedy movie with a female lead. Normally she is the ugly duckling and at the end of the film becomes a beautiful swan. In this film Brandy yearns for knowledge, sexual knowledge. She makes a list, checks it twice, and in the end makes a sizable dent before going off to college.
Very funny if you can handle sexual humor.
Never before do I recall seeing a teenage sex comedy movie with a female lead. Normally she is the ugly duckling and at the end of the film becomes a beautiful swan. In this film Brandy yearns for knowledge, sexual knowledge. She makes a list, checks it twice, and in the end makes a sizable dent before going off to college.
Very funny if you can handle sexual humor.
Aubrey Plaza is Brandy Klark, fresh out of high school and working as a lifeguard for the summer before taking off to college. Brandy is a straight A student with strong morals who has always succeeded at everything she tries. When she meets Rusty Waters at a grad party, she makes it a goal to loose her virginity to him before the summer is over. Not having had any previous sexual experiences whatsoever and embarrassed about how little she knows about sex, Brandy decides to educate herself, taking it on like a school project.
The To Do List takes us back to 1993 with an excellent cast including Bill Hader, possibly the best comedic actor working today, Johnny Simmons as Brandy's best male friend, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alia Shawkat as Brandy's best friend, Rachel Bilson as Brandy's older sister as well as Clark Gregg and Connie Britton as Brandy's parents. Even Andy Samberg appears in the film's funniest sequence.
With all the greatness The To Do List had going for it, it falls to the level of an American Pie flick. This sex-comedy is so raunchy that it becomes more uncomfortable than funny to watch, even embarrassing in some scenes. Oddly enough the only genuine part of the film is the friendship that blossoms between employee and boss, Aubrey Plaza and Bill Hader. However that still isn't enough to save the film from the failed attempts at laugh-out-loud worthy low-brow humor.
The To Do List takes us back to 1993 with an excellent cast including Bill Hader, possibly the best comedic actor working today, Johnny Simmons as Brandy's best male friend, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Alia Shawkat as Brandy's best friend, Rachel Bilson as Brandy's older sister as well as Clark Gregg and Connie Britton as Brandy's parents. Even Andy Samberg appears in the film's funniest sequence.
With all the greatness The To Do List had going for it, it falls to the level of an American Pie flick. This sex-comedy is so raunchy that it becomes more uncomfortable than funny to watch, even embarrassing in some scenes. Oddly enough the only genuine part of the film is the friendship that blossoms between employee and boss, Aubrey Plaza and Bill Hader. However that still isn't enough to save the film from the failed attempts at laugh-out-loud worthy low-brow humor.
- themissingpatient
- 5. Nov. 2013
- Permalink
- MovieHoliks
- 2. Aug. 2015
- Permalink
In short, this film was just ridiculously stupid and ever so stiffly written.
It is the first film I have ever walked out of. There were at least 7 or 8 couples who left the theater, along with a group of probably 10 people, and an immeasurable amount of people who started playing on their phones. I'm sure I was followed by a few more people as well.
Before you discard my review because I didn't watch the end, I did stay for about 80 out of the 105 minutes and just didn't care enough to stay.
The film has a highly overdone premise, yet I hoped it would take a somewhat original take on it with this "to-do list" idea. Wrong. The movie had the most stiff dialog that was just so full of overly crude and unrealistic give and take between characters that it made me feel like I was watching some sort of amateur movie made by a sex-crazed film student.
Before you write me off as a prude who just picked the wrong film, I'll tell you that I'm not. I watch and enjoy many modern comedies but this one was just so bland and stupid. The depiction of the main character was confused and poor. The main character didn't allow for as much humor to pervade the film as it could have and that is the fault of the writer. It's almost like Mrs. Bill Hader (writer and director) didn't know what to do to add in humor so she threw in her husband for a little bit of weak and lame slapstick/stupidity humor.
An obvious comparison of this film would be the American Pie films, which share in the same sort of over-the-top sexual content/humor. I enjoyed those way more than this film simply because they were funny and had characters you actually liked. The stiffness of the characters in this movie were at the fault of the writer, no one else. Rachel Bilson and Clark Gregg, in the little screen time they had, made a legit effort to bring realism into their characters and allowed for a couple short chuckles.
It seems that this film is getting some good reviews here on IMDb, and that's okay, I'm not trying to ruin Maggie Carey's career or anything. I'm just telling it like I saw it, and I respect the positive reviews, but for me I just didn't catch the funny parts in such an awkwardly progressing story about a girl who completes sexual actions with others as part of a to-do list.
Overall, the film was an unsophisticated, unrealistic, overly explicit and awkward dramatization of teenage sexuality. The only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because of some of the supporting characters who had somewhat attractive performances and saved some of the more awkward scenes.
It is the first film I have ever walked out of. There were at least 7 or 8 couples who left the theater, along with a group of probably 10 people, and an immeasurable amount of people who started playing on their phones. I'm sure I was followed by a few more people as well.
Before you discard my review because I didn't watch the end, I did stay for about 80 out of the 105 minutes and just didn't care enough to stay.
The film has a highly overdone premise, yet I hoped it would take a somewhat original take on it with this "to-do list" idea. Wrong. The movie had the most stiff dialog that was just so full of overly crude and unrealistic give and take between characters that it made me feel like I was watching some sort of amateur movie made by a sex-crazed film student.
Before you write me off as a prude who just picked the wrong film, I'll tell you that I'm not. I watch and enjoy many modern comedies but this one was just so bland and stupid. The depiction of the main character was confused and poor. The main character didn't allow for as much humor to pervade the film as it could have and that is the fault of the writer. It's almost like Mrs. Bill Hader (writer and director) didn't know what to do to add in humor so she threw in her husband for a little bit of weak and lame slapstick/stupidity humor.
An obvious comparison of this film would be the American Pie films, which share in the same sort of over-the-top sexual content/humor. I enjoyed those way more than this film simply because they were funny and had characters you actually liked. The stiffness of the characters in this movie were at the fault of the writer, no one else. Rachel Bilson and Clark Gregg, in the little screen time they had, made a legit effort to bring realism into their characters and allowed for a couple short chuckles.
It seems that this film is getting some good reviews here on IMDb, and that's okay, I'm not trying to ruin Maggie Carey's career or anything. I'm just telling it like I saw it, and I respect the positive reviews, but for me I just didn't catch the funny parts in such an awkwardly progressing story about a girl who completes sexual actions with others as part of a to-do list.
Overall, the film was an unsophisticated, unrealistic, overly explicit and awkward dramatization of teenage sexuality. The only reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because of some of the supporting characters who had somewhat attractive performances and saved some of the more awkward scenes.
The To Do List was a pleasant surprise since I figured it would be a low budget teen flick...But,you might say it was a very funny female version of American Pie.
I'm also surprised at the modest rating on IMDb. The ensemble cast headed by Aubrey Plaza did a fine job in a fast moving, profanity laced raunch fest that still maintained a valid and interesting plot...a high school grad wanting to learn about what she had been sexually missing.
She was helped by Rachel Bilson, as sexy as ever without her goody goody TV doctor persona and SNL's Bill Hader.Quite honestly it's hard not to like this film despite its grossness in parts.
It would be natural to have a welcome sequel with Plaza'a character as a college girl.
I'm also surprised at the modest rating on IMDb. The ensemble cast headed by Aubrey Plaza did a fine job in a fast moving, profanity laced raunch fest that still maintained a valid and interesting plot...a high school grad wanting to learn about what she had been sexually missing.
She was helped by Rachel Bilson, as sexy as ever without her goody goody TV doctor persona and SNL's Bill Hader.Quite honestly it's hard not to like this film despite its grossness in parts.
It would be natural to have a welcome sequel with Plaza'a character as a college girl.
I normally can see merit in almost any movie. I am definitely a glass half-full type of person. I thought that this would be a coming-of-age movie that would be similar to Porky's or American Pie. However, I was disappointed to find a movie that really had no point and no message to tell its viewers.
From disgusting gags about a girl eating feces to other scenes of girls continuing to have sex in front of their parents after getting caught, the movie lacked any realism. She creates a list to create a list, not out of an interest in self-exploration or in discovering more about how people think and interact. She goes tediously through the list with no real emotion (similar to her Parks and Rec character) and I similarly found myself with the same ambivalence, apathy, and disinterest that she took in her subject matter.
I rented it knowing that it would be raunchy. However, it was not raunchy, it was simply mind- numbingly stupid and a waste of a couple hours of time. I would rather watch Porky's or American Pie for a revolving 24-hour back-to-back setting than to watch this movie another time. I always finish movies and this was one of the few that I thought about turning off and not finishing. It just continually grew more and more boring and disinterested by the minute. None of the characters, except for Bill Hader, were at all likable or relatable.
From disgusting gags about a girl eating feces to other scenes of girls continuing to have sex in front of their parents after getting caught, the movie lacked any realism. She creates a list to create a list, not out of an interest in self-exploration or in discovering more about how people think and interact. She goes tediously through the list with no real emotion (similar to her Parks and Rec character) and I similarly found myself with the same ambivalence, apathy, and disinterest that she took in her subject matter.
I rented it knowing that it would be raunchy. However, it was not raunchy, it was simply mind- numbingly stupid and a waste of a couple hours of time. I would rather watch Porky's or American Pie for a revolving 24-hour back-to-back setting than to watch this movie another time. I always finish movies and this was one of the few that I thought about turning off and not finishing. It just continually grew more and more boring and disinterested by the minute. None of the characters, except for Bill Hader, were at all likable or relatable.
I didn't know what to expect going into seeing this one. I actually never even saw a trailer for it, but I read the synopsis and saw the impressive cast list and that was enough to get me interested. Even getting to the parking lot I asked my buddy if the movie was rated R and he said yes, and I was ensured of this as the movie started and "Me So Horny" by 2 Live Cru started playing during the opening credits. The movie takes place in 1993 and is about a recent high school grad who decides she needs to explore her sexuality and makes a "to do" list of all the things she wants to try before losing her virginity. I graduated high school in 96 so I could definitely relate to the setting and anyone who grew up during that time will get quite a few chuckles with all the references. But regardless of what era the movie was set in, it would still be a hilarious film. Aubrey Plaza is fantastic as the lead and shows a whole other side than how April is on Parks and Recreation. The rest of the cast is solid as well, with Bill Hader, Donald Glover, Rachel Bilson, Clark Gregg, and Connie Britton. There's almost too many to name. But as I said in the title, this may be the filthiest teen comedy ever made. It reminded me some of American Pie and Superbad but this movie takes it to a whole other level. It does get a little graphic, though there's not any nudity which is an odd thing to say after saying its graphic. You'll just have to see for yourself. I think the ladies will be able to relate to the movie more than guys, but regardless, its funny for everyone. I think I heard more laughter in the theater in total during this than I did This is the End. I think this could be the sleeper hit of the summer.
- AdamBowl23
- 17. Sept. 2013
- Permalink
What You Should Know – Set in the 90's it's believable that Brandy is an eighteen year old virgin. As a straight-A student she's always known what to do except when she gets the chance encounter to have sex with her crush. But she's devised a plan to pop her cherry by engaging in every sexual act possible before her first semester in college. With the support of her best friends and her slutty older sister, Brandy is well on her way from always getting straight-A's to having her first O.
What Works – The 90's soundtrack with all the sexed up songs including "Me So Horney," "O.P.P." and "Let's Talk About Sex." It's also fun to see Brandy check off each item while she's in the act. Her best friend notes there are things on the list that she hasn't even done and that's awesome. There are things on that list that I haven't even heard of and that's sad.
What Doesn't Work – The adorable dweeb looking to lose his/her virginity is a bit overdone, but it's nice that Aubrey Plaza has opted not to wear the signature ponytail and over-sized glasses. While she's the typical straight-A type, she's not insecure in who she is. Having sex is just another thing to cross off her long list of accomplishments.
What I Thought – Worth the Admission In a day and age where slutty teens run rapid it's nice to recall, not too long ago, when they didn't which makes The To Do List something you must do this summer. Keep in mind that while it's cute it's best to wear a condom; this is the kind of movie that is so vulgar you could catch an STD right in the middle of all the laughter.
What Works – The 90's soundtrack with all the sexed up songs including "Me So Horney," "O.P.P." and "Let's Talk About Sex." It's also fun to see Brandy check off each item while she's in the act. Her best friend notes there are things on the list that she hasn't even done and that's awesome. There are things on that list that I haven't even heard of and that's sad.
What Doesn't Work – The adorable dweeb looking to lose his/her virginity is a bit overdone, but it's nice that Aubrey Plaza has opted not to wear the signature ponytail and over-sized glasses. While she's the typical straight-A type, she's not insecure in who she is. Having sex is just another thing to cross off her long list of accomplishments.
What I Thought – Worth the Admission In a day and age where slutty teens run rapid it's nice to recall, not too long ago, when they didn't which makes The To Do List something you must do this summer. Keep in mind that while it's cute it's best to wear a condom; this is the kind of movie that is so vulgar you could catch an STD right in the middle of all the laughter.
- nic-dorsey
- 24. Juli 2013
- Permalink
watched THE TO DO LIST ...the first thing I liked about it is..that the story sets in the 90s..the awesome decade..BUT the makers choose to forget all the good-funny things about it & kept their focus only on "sex"...& try to made a teen movie with the theme of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS & NO STRINGS ATTACHED..& it kinda reminds of EASY-A..BUT the film is not that bad..I mean they kinda made it like the American PIE with a girl thing though...it has a few funny moments thanks to its fine cast..they did a good job(in the time they had)...BUT the film looses its grip on the story when it reaches to the end...its like the makers said "OK guys today is the last day of filming..wrap it up" so the climax of the film is not that impressive...BUT its an entertaining film the for the young ones(by that I mean 14 to 22)
It has no nudity..still one should avoid watching it with their parents
I rate it just_WATCHABLE_
It has no nudity..still one should avoid watching it with their parents
I rate it just_WATCHABLE_
- arnavgoswami
- 4. Nov. 2013
- Permalink
Having the opportunity to attend an early screening of the To-Do List, I have come out with two minds on the movie. On the one hand, the To Do List has many qualities that could make it into a classic coming of age movie: an overachieving protagonist with a yearning to fill her sudden sexual deficiency before college; the supportive best friends who edge her on, the timid boy who attempts to cross over from being just a friend to being something more, etc. On the other hand though, is the feeling that this doesn't necessarily leave any memorable impression on the table with these elements put together. One thing I can say about this movie is that it has an exceptional flow.
Set in the year 1993, The To Do List centres on Brandy Clark (Aubrey Plaza), a model student with the grades, trophies, attendance and valedictorian badge to show for it. Although not clearly stated, it is implied that her lifestyle is that of a strict Mormon, with no exposure to the more vicarious side of teenage life. That is until, her best friends; Fiona (Alia Shawkat) and Wendy (Sarah Steele) take her to a graduation party where she glimpses upon hunky college student Rusty Waters (Scott Porter) in his long haired, 90's style glory. A brief night on the wild side left unfinished sets in motion an adventure seeking the thrills of sexual experience; thus, Brandy Clark uses her trusty To-Do List to craft a step by step action guide to ultimately lose her virginity.
What makes The To Do List flow so well is the structure of the storytelling. Maggie Carey's decision to keep the teen angst drama to a minimum crafts a movie that flows like the To-Do List Brandy Clark is using; one scene to the next in an almost checklist-like fashion, creating a focused consistency in the movie's pace. Add onto that a plethora of 90's references and the audience can expect an enjoyable sequence of laughter throughout the movie.
The To Do List has a flair of Superbad to it, with help from Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bill Hader cast as supporting roles. That being said, this movie goes much farther in the sexual department. Brandy Clark's overachieving status as a perfectionist makes her romps just another thing to accomplish, as if handing in a book report. Aubrey Plaza, who I found out shares my birthday, does a stellar job of portraying my age group as an 18 year old, nerdy virgin. Even at 29, her petite features make her a great choice for this role.
Even though the pacing was a high point, some audience members may find themselves struggling to find a memorable impression within Brandy Clark's adventure from nerdy girl to sexually experienced woman. That being said, you'll probably find yourself enjoying The To Do List, and for those who grew up in the 90's, it'll be a worthwhile trip down memory lane.
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated: R Run Time: 1 hr 50 mins
Set in the year 1993, The To Do List centres on Brandy Clark (Aubrey Plaza), a model student with the grades, trophies, attendance and valedictorian badge to show for it. Although not clearly stated, it is implied that her lifestyle is that of a strict Mormon, with no exposure to the more vicarious side of teenage life. That is until, her best friends; Fiona (Alia Shawkat) and Wendy (Sarah Steele) take her to a graduation party where she glimpses upon hunky college student Rusty Waters (Scott Porter) in his long haired, 90's style glory. A brief night on the wild side left unfinished sets in motion an adventure seeking the thrills of sexual experience; thus, Brandy Clark uses her trusty To-Do List to craft a step by step action guide to ultimately lose her virginity.
What makes The To Do List flow so well is the structure of the storytelling. Maggie Carey's decision to keep the teen angst drama to a minimum crafts a movie that flows like the To-Do List Brandy Clark is using; one scene to the next in an almost checklist-like fashion, creating a focused consistency in the movie's pace. Add onto that a plethora of 90's references and the audience can expect an enjoyable sequence of laughter throughout the movie.
The To Do List has a flair of Superbad to it, with help from Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bill Hader cast as supporting roles. That being said, this movie goes much farther in the sexual department. Brandy Clark's overachieving status as a perfectionist makes her romps just another thing to accomplish, as if handing in a book report. Aubrey Plaza, who I found out shares my birthday, does a stellar job of portraying my age group as an 18 year old, nerdy virgin. Even at 29, her petite features make her a great choice for this role.
Even though the pacing was a high point, some audience members may find themselves struggling to find a memorable impression within Brandy Clark's adventure from nerdy girl to sexually experienced woman. That being said, you'll probably find yourself enjoying The To Do List, and for those who grew up in the 90's, it'll be a worthwhile trip down memory lane.
Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Rated: R Run Time: 1 hr 50 mins
I didn't expect this to be so rude and "offensive" and some might argue that it tries a bit too hard (no pun intended). But the character Audrey Plaza plays is well defined! Add to that a really stellar support cast (Rachel Bilson, Bill Hader and Agent Coulson ... ah well the actor who became famous playing that "Avenger" crew member that is of course ;) ) and you have a really fine movie here.
The jokes might not all hit the spot (and other things miss the spot too, if you catch my drift), but it is overall a satisfying experience, if you have the stamina to go through it all (like a list that is very prominent in this movie). But enough of my puns, if you like your comedy to be rude and don't have problems to talk about sex, you might wanna watch this
The jokes might not all hit the spot (and other things miss the spot too, if you catch my drift), but it is overall a satisfying experience, if you have the stamina to go through it all (like a list that is very prominent in this movie). But enough of my puns, if you like your comedy to be rude and don't have problems to talk about sex, you might wanna watch this
And let the puns commence!
Seriously, this had the makings of a very funny film. Aubrey Plaza (so great in "Safety Not Guaranteed") and the rest? Girl power going for the crotch and all that.
It might have been a funnier script, but the director didn't trust the material. It seemed like every gag (so to speak) was forced, and every punch line was like being beaten over the head with a pig's bladder.
Some of the best comedy happens in the viewer's own imagination, but rather than allow for some subtlety and let us create the final image or reaction for ourselves, the director zoomed in on the mugging faces of the actors, just in case we didn't realize this was a FUNNY MOMENT.
Too bad. You want some great comedy that still has a lot of heart, check out "Safety Not Guaranteed." This one you can give a pass.
Seriously, this had the makings of a very funny film. Aubrey Plaza (so great in "Safety Not Guaranteed") and the rest? Girl power going for the crotch and all that.
It might have been a funnier script, but the director didn't trust the material. It seemed like every gag (so to speak) was forced, and every punch line was like being beaten over the head with a pig's bladder.
Some of the best comedy happens in the viewer's own imagination, but rather than allow for some subtlety and let us create the final image or reaction for ourselves, the director zoomed in on the mugging faces of the actors, just in case we didn't realize this was a FUNNY MOMENT.
Too bad. You want some great comedy that still has a lot of heart, check out "Safety Not Guaranteed." This one you can give a pass.
A throwback to 1980s sex comedies that has a bit of charm and a few laughs, but just not enough of either. Parks and Recreations' Aubrey Plaza stars as a high school graduate who is sick of being a dorky virgin. She makes a list of sexual experiences and attempts to get through them all before she heads off to college. The film has a fine cast. Besides Plaza (who, I must say, looks far too old to play 18 at this point; I know no one else is 18, either, but most of the others are more convincing), we have Johnny Simmons as the dorky, handsome boy who crushes on her, Scott Porter as the hunky older guy after whom she lusts, Alia Shawkat and Sarah Steele as her best friends, Rachel Bilson as her older sister (whose fiancé, Adam Pally, who was one of the funniest people on television in Happy Endings, is completely wasted), Bill Hader as her boss, Andy Sandberg as a grunge rocker and Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Donald Glover as a couple of other guys who went to high school with her. I like all of these people, and most of them have a good moment or two, but there's nothing hilarious. The film is set in 1993, and it's fun to feel my own youth being pandered to.
- rebelz1139
- 10. Dez. 2013
- Permalink
Unfunny. Check. Unoriginal. Check. Unnecessarily crass and crude. Check. Classless. Check. Without a dot of nuance. Check. Not remotely emotionally involving. Check. I could go on and on checking my list of why you should put this empty-headed drek on your "don't do list." While I won't miss the buck twenty I paid to extricate this piece of excrement from the Red Box, I regret that I will never recapture the 104 minutes I spent waiting to care about anyone in it or anything that happens to them.
Oh, I admit to laughing... once -- during an inventive scene that involves Andy Samburg's cameo turn as a rock-singer with freshly dyed hair receiving a blow job in the shower.
Ultimately, the question is why would an ensemble of strong comedic actors, mostly in their mid-20s to mid-30s, sign on to play teens in a sophomoric script that panders to the lowest of the lowest common denominator? I can just see the pitch: "Picture this: Porky's... with GIRLS." And why would Bill Hader produce and put his mug in such a vapid waste of resources? Oh, yeah! How could I forget? He's married to writer/director Maggie Carey.
Hader is a gifted comedic actor. Maybe he might consider refraining from future collaborations with Mags and dedicate himself to projects more worthy of his talents before the only work he can get are T-Mobile commercials.
Oh, I admit to laughing... once -- during an inventive scene that involves Andy Samburg's cameo turn as a rock-singer with freshly dyed hair receiving a blow job in the shower.
Ultimately, the question is why would an ensemble of strong comedic actors, mostly in their mid-20s to mid-30s, sign on to play teens in a sophomoric script that panders to the lowest of the lowest common denominator? I can just see the pitch: "Picture this: Porky's... with GIRLS." And why would Bill Hader produce and put his mug in such a vapid waste of resources? Oh, yeah! How could I forget? He's married to writer/director Maggie Carey.
Hader is a gifted comedic actor. Maybe he might consider refraining from future collaborations with Mags and dedicate himself to projects more worthy of his talents before the only work he can get are T-Mobile commercials.
As can be expected from the title, trailer, poster, and concept of the film, The To-Do List is chock full of penis and vagina jokes. It isn't a high-brow comedy, but the sex jokes and gags are funny without feeling as juvenile as they do in many other films, like the countless American Pie movies. Also, amazingly, there is no actual nudity. Though the plot falters here and there, overall it is a satisfying comedy.
The plot is quite straightforward, the virgin high school valedictorian, Brandy played by Aubrey Plaza, is looking for sexual experience and to lose her virginity before going to college. Her target is Rusty Waters, a college guy she works with at the local pool. The plot however, starts to fall apart a bit at the end of the second act. There is a rival pool club introduced, people start exploiting Brandy, and other things where is minimal to no payoff. There are also really cliché final monologues by Brandy about sex and love, which aren't funny at all and feel out of place.
I am a huge fan of Aubrey Plaza. April Ludgate from Parks and Recreations is fantastic. This is just her second leading role in a feature after Safety Not Guaranteed. Overall, her performance is great and she is funny. However, there are a few instances where her lines felt a big forced. I think the larger problem was the character. Conceptually it is an interesting character, A-student approaching sex in a systematic way and eventually becoming a sexual deviant. While this should be a subtle character arc, in this film Brandy becomes a completely different person almost immediately. While her dialogue is generally consistent, her actions are not. It feels like the character was written into situations, instead of thinking what situations the character would find herself in. Speaking of character arcs: Bill Hader's character Willy. Bill Hader is hilarious and the character is great, but the way he is used the plot is strange. It seems like he may have initially had a lot more scenes that were cut.
The rest of the characters in the movie are great though. The interactions between Brandy and her sister lead to many a lols. Brandy's parents are also the source of a lot of humor. (People keep mentioning Brandy's dad is a judge, though it never comes to play. Am I missing a reference? The whole time I was waiting for him to do something judge-y. But I digress). Brandy's two best friends are funny as well. They are more sexually experienced than Brandy and offer her amusing advice and it is slowly revealed that almost as ignorant as Brandy. Cameron (Johnny Simmons) is the sort of cliché 'male best friend who is desperately in love with her but she doesn't realize her feelings till the end' character. But in this film he is quite a wimp, crying and moping around often. Rusty Waters also might seem like a cliché on the surface, but in the end he isn't the typical movie 'jerk who she is in love with and doesn't realize he is a jerk'. Also, it's great to see recognizable faces like Donald Glover, Andy Samberg, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in minor roles.
The time period is also another character in the film- the 90s. Every scene is riddled with things pure 90s America- beepers, waterbeds, furniture covered in plastic, various posters of 90s bands and TV shows. Most of the time they are more subtle jokes and aren't in your face, though a few instances feel like it's a bit much.
tl;dr Sex jokes sex jokes everywhere; great for anyone who grew up in 90s America, fun characters, don't think about the plot too much.
The plot is quite straightforward, the virgin high school valedictorian, Brandy played by Aubrey Plaza, is looking for sexual experience and to lose her virginity before going to college. Her target is Rusty Waters, a college guy she works with at the local pool. The plot however, starts to fall apart a bit at the end of the second act. There is a rival pool club introduced, people start exploiting Brandy, and other things where is minimal to no payoff. There are also really cliché final monologues by Brandy about sex and love, which aren't funny at all and feel out of place.
I am a huge fan of Aubrey Plaza. April Ludgate from Parks and Recreations is fantastic. This is just her second leading role in a feature after Safety Not Guaranteed. Overall, her performance is great and she is funny. However, there are a few instances where her lines felt a big forced. I think the larger problem was the character. Conceptually it is an interesting character, A-student approaching sex in a systematic way and eventually becoming a sexual deviant. While this should be a subtle character arc, in this film Brandy becomes a completely different person almost immediately. While her dialogue is generally consistent, her actions are not. It feels like the character was written into situations, instead of thinking what situations the character would find herself in. Speaking of character arcs: Bill Hader's character Willy. Bill Hader is hilarious and the character is great, but the way he is used the plot is strange. It seems like he may have initially had a lot more scenes that were cut.
The rest of the characters in the movie are great though. The interactions between Brandy and her sister lead to many a lols. Brandy's parents are also the source of a lot of humor. (People keep mentioning Brandy's dad is a judge, though it never comes to play. Am I missing a reference? The whole time I was waiting for him to do something judge-y. But I digress). Brandy's two best friends are funny as well. They are more sexually experienced than Brandy and offer her amusing advice and it is slowly revealed that almost as ignorant as Brandy. Cameron (Johnny Simmons) is the sort of cliché 'male best friend who is desperately in love with her but she doesn't realize her feelings till the end' character. But in this film he is quite a wimp, crying and moping around often. Rusty Waters also might seem like a cliché on the surface, but in the end he isn't the typical movie 'jerk who she is in love with and doesn't realize he is a jerk'. Also, it's great to see recognizable faces like Donald Glover, Andy Samberg, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse in minor roles.
The time period is also another character in the film- the 90s. Every scene is riddled with things pure 90s America- beepers, waterbeds, furniture covered in plastic, various posters of 90s bands and TV shows. Most of the time they are more subtle jokes and aren't in your face, though a few instances feel like it's a bit much.
tl;dr Sex jokes sex jokes everywhere; great for anyone who grew up in 90s America, fun characters, don't think about the plot too much.
Watched this over the Thanksgiving holiday as I'd heard the buzz on it. We usually like quirky little indy films, and this one looked like it was perfect.
Boy, was I wrong! For a comedy, this film was simply not funny. In fact it was more annoying than funny with the main actress not able to carry a scene. The only decent moments were when SNL's Bill Hader was on the screen, but those were too few to save this film. I felt no connection with the main character. She was supposed to be so smart and independent, yet yielded completely to peer pressure when it came to sex.
I could not recommend the film to anyone.
Boy, was I wrong! For a comedy, this film was simply not funny. In fact it was more annoying than funny with the main actress not able to carry a scene. The only decent moments were when SNL's Bill Hader was on the screen, but those were too few to save this film. I felt no connection with the main character. She was supposed to be so smart and independent, yet yielded completely to peer pressure when it came to sex.
I could not recommend the film to anyone.
"I'm witty, engaging, smart, well read. Once I add sexually experienced to the package he'll want me." After high school graduation valedictorian but sexually inactive Brandy Klark (Plaza) goes to her first real party and sees a guy that makes her feel things she never has before. Not wanting to embarrass herself she comes up with a list so she can get more experience before ultimately "losing it" to the man of her dreams. Since the Hangover hit R rated comedies have been more and more abundant. Since American Pie and There's Something About Mary teen based comedies have been trying to one up each other and see how much more they can get away with. This one goes pretty far in terms of shock factor and is funny for most of the way through. The only real negative I can say about this is like Bridesmaids this one seemed geared more toward the female crowd. A negative to me because I am a guy. Fans of movies like Bridesmaids and The Bachelorette will really enjoy this. Overall, it was funny and I did like it but was just a little too girly for me. I give it a B.
- cosmo_tiger
- 16. Nov. 2013
- Permalink
This is basically a re-packaged version of American Pie; the difference being that instead of 4 guys aiming to lose their virginity it is focused on 1 girl. The goal is the same; to become more experienced before leaving for college. So the awkward scenes pile in and the cheesy moments also make appearances. Basically everything you seen in American Pie, but reversed. This being a little more revealing and nonchalant.
There is nothing special about it; it does raise eyebrows and a few laughs, but there was something not right about it. It is obviously a film to garner shocks and try and relate to experiences that sexually active teenagers may have found themselves in. But it fails to grasp the attention; just one random scene after another. Each trying to outdo the other; with more embarrassment or to stun you more. This is evident in one scene where the ridiculous meter explodes and leaves you rolling your eyes and uttering the judgmental "as if". In other words in tries too hard to impress.
There is nothing special about it; it does raise eyebrows and a few laughs, but there was something not right about it. It is obviously a film to garner shocks and try and relate to experiences that sexually active teenagers may have found themselves in. But it fails to grasp the attention; just one random scene after another. Each trying to outdo the other; with more embarrassment or to stun you more. This is evident in one scene where the ridiculous meter explodes and leaves you rolling your eyes and uttering the judgmental "as if". In other words in tries too hard to impress.
- The_moan_of_all_moans
- 5. Okt. 2013
- Permalink