Things to Do

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.

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 slow, sometimes amusing story about the confusion, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction of a 20-something who moves back home, struggles with an unfulfilling life, etc. One can't help but feel that the whole thing borrows too heavily from other, better films (i.e. Office Space, Napoleon Dynamite). This would be a better film if the acting were better, but then again, the characters are not very interesting as written, so the actors don't have much to work with. The film is simply too ordinary and only slightly amusing to recommend it, but, if you're at this point in your life, you will find a lot to relate to here. Tries to be very droll and Wes Anderson- esquire in its quirkiness, but it all doesn't add up to much, and no one really changes as a result of 90 minutes of film. So few people have voted that I don't think this ever got a wide or noticeable release in either theaters or DVD, which is strange because the production value is above par.

After seeing this film you start to think about the things that you would have liked to have completed. My list is long and I know that it would have been fun just trying to complete any part of the list. I know that everyone has some kind of list but just, can not find the time to begin. Also we all have a neighbour like Mr. Farston. Theadore had a great idea when he and his partner Gerry wrote the screen play, they came up with a solution that worked. That in itself shows that a disturber liked what he saw and knew the public would also. You can go to your local Blockbuster store and rent the movie. So please take a look at another Canadian Independent Film and then make your own list ......

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!