The To Do List, Starring Aubrey Plaza, is a Movie that Should be Placed on your 'To Do List' for this Summer

The To Do List (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed and Written by: Maggie Carey

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Johnny Simmons, Alia Shawkat, Scott Porter, Bill Hader, Connie Britton, and Clark Gregg

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I couldn't help but have the Icona Pop lyric "But I'm a 90s bitch" playing in my head after I walked out the screening for the film The to Do List.  I was 9 in 1993, but I remember all the the things made the 90s such interesting, but odd decade.  The last remaining gasps of the yuppies paved way for 90210, trapper keepers, and the birth of the next political dynasty the Clintons.

Hillary Clinton is a major influence to Valedictorian Brandy Klark (Plaza).  On graduation day as she attempts to give her speech, the crowd yells out virgin she pauses, and the wholesome Brandy is escorted to the side.  As Brandy is driving off with her best friends Fiona (Shawkat) and Wendy (Sarah Steele) they divert from going a wholesome after graduation part and end up heading to a keg party.  Brandy is ready to go right away; she has made her lists in preparation for her time at Georgetown, but she is soon entranced by college boy Rusty Waters (Porter).  Brandy's wholesome demeanor slips away as she dives into inebriation.  While drunk she mistakenly ends up making out with Rusty, and soon after the party ends she decides rather than prep for her new year at college she is going to embark on a journey of sexual exploration.

Creating a film about female sexual exploration is rare in the film world, most films about teenage sexual exploration show the women as the object of the hunt.  Films like American Pie, Fast Time's at Ridgemont High or Porky's play a big role in within this genre.  These films and many others were at the forefront films about teenagers, and sex.  Back in 2010 Easy A helped break through this wall with mild success in theatres, and strong success after the dust was settled and the DVD released.  The late 90s and 2000s saw a rise in strong female led teenage films, like Bring it On, Pitch Perfect, and of course Mean Girls.  Maggie Carey expands the female vantage point in new ways with her film using the more typical guy horn dog mentality with a woman.  I think this a great way to show a diverse perspective using gender.

Carey has not had much experience within the television world; she has only worked on a few shows, and this is her first feature film.  Carey's film is smart in the way it explores sexual encounters for both genders, and I appreciate the lens she uses.  Carey has some sharp witty moments for many of the characters, her 90s jokes are great.  I think my favorite is a reference to the way Tracy Gold dressed on Growing Pains.  Carey is good at the one liners, my guess is that her experience with Funny or Die.  On the other hand Carey's lack of focused work in even a variety of sitcoms, and film, and only in the Funny or Die venue lends to some holes or gaps in the script which create moments where the film lags and falls flat.  

While the script has its flaws, these flaws are ironed over with this terrific ensemble led brilliantly by Aubrey Plaza.  Plaza finally steps outside of her acting comfort zone and is no longer the morose teen/person, but rather she embarks on this new person with Brandy.  Plaza's comedic timing is still there but in a new form, she takes all of the achievements she has made within her work in numerous films, and Parks and Recreation, and shows us "Who's the Boss" (a great 90s reference.  Plaza tackles naive well, and transforms at the same pace with which Brandy grows as a character.

Plaza is of course joined by many great actors in this cast who elevate the comedy, Hader is great as the  pool manager/bum. Sawkat and Steele are hilarious as Brandy's two slutty best friends, and I love Wendy's obsession with Beaches.  While many of the side players in Brandy's life were hilarious, I found her family the funniest, especially her sexually experienced mother played by Connie Britton, and her uptight Rush Limbaugh loving father played by the great Clark Gregg.

While Carey's script is not the strongest, the film is still funny, and a great inventive new format at looking at girls exploring their sexuality.  Plaza is terrific, and along with the emsemble this film is some thing you should ad to your 'To Do List' this summer.

July Movies to See and Skip!

June was an interesting month.  Man of Steel did better than Superman Returns, which will help launch  DC comic series, but the film was more Michael Bay than quality series reboot.

The most successful films of June have been This is the End, Monster's University, and I predict The Heat will fall into this group.  End is a success because of its cost and percentage drop off each week.  Monster's is outdoing other Pixar films.  Heat is an R rated film which out did a major Rolan Emmerich film (White House Down).

How does July look, pretty boring, beyond a few films that could be plain fun!

July 4th

The Long Ranger (July 2nd) which cost a lot of money, and is from the brain of Verbinski and Bay looks like it could top White House Down as a massive flop.  I have not heard anyone clamoring to see this film, and it just looks plain awful.

Despicable Me (July 2nd) is not going to re-invent the wheel, the story is going to be cute and hilarious I expect nothing less, and the minions are just great.

The Way Way Back (Limited) is a film I have already seen (Review here: http://eternalthoughtsofkevinsmind.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-way-way-back-is-heartfelt-coming-of.html).  Jim Rash and Nat Faxon have constructed something beautiful, funny, and entertaining, go see it!

July 12th 

Pacific Rim comes from the brilliant mind of Guillermo Del Torro, and looks like it's massive visual effects could make other films look like child's play.  I am excited, but cautiously, as to to not build up the high too much.

Grown Ups 2 is missing Rob Schneider, which my friend John and I noticed while at the movies last evening.  This will not drastically alter the quality of the movie, but this movie could be in a lot of trouble these stars are losing steam, and I am shocked this got a sequel.

Fruitvale Station was a smash at Sundance, look out for writer/director Coogler to make a big splash, and Michael B. Jordan to impress many.  This could be a major competitor for the Oscars.

July 19th 

Red 2, was a surprising sequel, the first was well like by critics, but did not make a lot of money.  I thought the first was a bit boring, and did not laugh as much as I should have, Mirren was the star, not surprising.

R.I.P.D. looks like it could be fun, but is Ryan Reynolds a jinx for films like this?  This film looks like it could be a lot of fun, the premise is kind of cool.  Reynolds and Bridges look to be a great team, and this graphic novel turned film could be a success.

Turbo also stars Ryan Reynolds as the voice of a snail turned motor racer?  I am not going to waste time on this cheap premise.  Animated films have been lazy this year, and this film is proof.

The Conjuring is another attempt at horror films trying to be a landmark, or the next Exorcist, or Amityville Horror.  This has a great cast, and comes from director James Wan (Saw), it could be good, but I am holding out that this is going to be too novelty.

Girl Most Likely stars Kristin Wiig, and looks like it could be fun, but the Icona Pop song over the trailer is just lame.  I think this is going to be a big miss, it looks too quirky for its own good.  I love Wiig, the cast, and the directors Sherri Springer Berman and Robert Pulcinni directed American Splendor, but they also did The Nanny Diaries, conundrum.

Only God Forgives bring Nicolas Winding Refn back together with Ryan Gosling for another go around, their first being Drive.  This was shown at Cannes and the film received a lot less love than Drive, in fact it got pretty awful reviews.  Refn style as a director is interesting, this could be one the critics are too harsh on, or they could be giving a "danger Will Robinson."

July 26th 

The Wolverine has the worst marketing, and a lot to live up to, in a bad way.  Origins was seen as a one of the worst Marvel films, even worse than Last Stand, this could smell trouble for Old Man Logan.  Back to the marketing, people are not even aware the film is being released, this is one of those films that just may be a failure without even getting a fighting chance.

The To Do List is this year's Easy A/Pitch Perfect.  This film looks hilarious, and stars the indie star on the rise, Aubrey Plaza.  Plaza is great on Parks and Recreation, and i have no doubt after Safety not Guaranteed she can carry this film.

Blue Jasmine, is Woody Allen's latest flick, and after his disastrous adventure in Rome Jasmine shows the darker humor, and could hearken back to more old school Woody.  Blanchett, and Hawkins are two great actresses, and I am excited to see what they can do within this film.