Things to Do

Things To Do was a totally pleasant and unexpected surprise. I laughed so hard, I spit out my M&Ms! Everyone has gone through a traumatic event in their life that makes them reflect on, where am I going? What I am doing? There are so many things I have yet to do! Things To Do captures this beautifully and makes you laugh in the process! Hysterical moments - tennis balls and tear-away pants! The type of movie you make a part of your collection and watch again and again when you need to feel good. Great performances, look out for Daniel Wilson. Really good soundtrack, love to know where I could find it. Think Garden State meets The Royal Tenenbaums. Loved it!

things to do.... a refreshing change from all the Hollywood blockbusters!!!

the film brings about many issues in life and makes us think how wonderful it is to be alive!!!! mid-life crisis, stranded in a big city, feeling a bit lost, depressed. Things to do with the aid of a beautiful soundtrack shines a positive light on how life can suck for some and emphasises the importance of being positive, keeping busy and enjoying yourself.

he moves home, he makes a new friend.... re lives his childhood and goes about on a mission to do all the things he wanted to do... GENIUS!!!! the film is a quite therapeutic and cruises along at a nice pace. Beautiful film... highly recommended and will definitely make you chuckle once and awhile!!! first review.... so spare me please lol

What is it about Reel 13's obsession with Canada? I can't seem to figure it out. It's a New York-based TV show – there are lots of New York films and New York filmmakers. Why do they insist on continually going north of the border for independent films? No comprendo. Fortunately, Things to Do, though very formulaic, is a couple notches above the star-studded, though incredibly lame Wilby Wonderful from a couple weeks ago.

Things to Do is the story of Adam – a mid-twenties low-level employee in a non-descript corporation in a non-descript city somewhere in Ontario. For reasons not initially clear, Adam can't deal with the rat race anymore. He quits his job and returns to his small suburban hometown (apparently Ontario suburbs are sadly similar to American ones), where the rumors are already swirling about the reasons behind his return. Mac, the neighborhood eccentric who went to school with Adam, doesn't seem to care, however. He's just happy to have a new person to hang out with. Then, the duo, inspired by a television talk show, come up with a list of things they've always wanted to do, They then go about completing the tasks on the list and as a result, go on a journey of self-discovery.

Yes, I know – it's kind of a cookie-cutter plot (reminds me of that short-lived Fox TV show Free Ride – do you guys remember that?) and that's the biggest detractor of the film. However, while Things to Do isn't ground-breaking, it's a very watchable and mildly enjoyable comedy. Michael Stasko, in the lead role of Adam (he is also the co-writer), is charismatic in a very soft-spoken, minimalist way, which in and of itself, is an interesting choice. Daniel Wilson, as the dim-witted sidekick Mac, is an equally unique presence and is responsible for the film's few hearty laughs (the film otherwise only elicits the occasional wry smile). Director Theodore Bezaire displays strong comic timing and pace throughout the film and manages to add several clever details through his direction and blocking (The moment with the bus driver and the luggage, the blocking of the only kiss in the film and the flunkies of the pre-pubescent soapbox king are all worthy examples).

Things to Do shows off the skills of some very talented people, but still fails to achieve maximum impact. The previously-mentioned predictability of the plot and also the lack of talent surrounding the three key figures (the majority of the dayplayers in the film are very bad and very distracting) hold the film back. Furthermore, the more serious moments don't really fly - there is a very tragic moment in the film that is skirted over in a very lazy way. I almost wonder if this was purposely done to avoid challenging the triumvirate (Bezaire, Stasko and Wilson) beyond their comfort level. That would be unfortunate because only then will these three gifted gentlemen get to the next level. Perhaps they will take it up a notch on the next project – and I sincerely hope they do because the raw potential is there. I truly believe the sky's the limit for these guys – but it's up to them.

A feel good movie that revives the sole and ignites the inner-child. Makes you want to start crossing off things on your own to-do list.

I loved characters, they were all so well developed. Adam's indifferent father who doesn't care to put down his newspaper when his son arrives home for the first time after his buddy commits suicide. Adam's resentful mother who stores stuff in his room while he's still living there. And, of course my favourite Mac, who I identified with the most, the somewhat socially inept, child-like, free-spirit who despite his obvious flaws seems to have the found the key to his own happiness, and ironically the only person in the film who doesn't need to compile a 'things to do' list.

Well... it was 'just plain magnificent'(my new favourite term) and has a definitive spot on favourite movie shelf alongside Garden State, I 'love' Huckabees and New Waterford Girl which I think also beautifully capture the average individuals struggle to find happiness in their seemingly sterile environment.

A solid, bleakly humorous script backed by good direction and an awesome soundtrack make for an enjoyable and (for me) almost painfully true to life film. Adam Stevenson is a neurasthenic social misfit. He's good hearted but kinda wussy. An unpleasant event at work triggers his return to the family home and his parents, who have little emotional connection to him. Adam runs into a trouble-making high school acquaintance, Mac, and after he sees a self-help jackass on TV go on about making lists, Adam decides with Mac's help to relive his life according to a better script than he's been given so far. He makes a list of cool things he wants to do and then, without being too much of a perfectionist about it (the 'Make a Great Movie' scene cracked me up) - he does them.

I was about a third of the way through the film before I realized it was Canadian. That's how good it is. Yes, I know that's a backhanded compliment, but a lot of Canadian movies suffer from "I am a very earnest but amateurish labor of love" disease. This is not an amateurish movie.

Michael Stasko as Adam and Daniel Wilson as Mac carry the movie ably. This movie deserves better than 4.8 stars. All the bit parts are well cast, and the score is a star in its own right. Recommended for when you want to watch a buddy movie with no car chases or gunfights.