The To Do List

Name: The To Do List
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: July 26, 2013
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Alia Shawkat, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Johnny Simmons

2013

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 77 Ratings

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5.7

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5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 77 Ratings

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The To Do List

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Movie Details & Credits

CBS Films | Release Date: July 26, 2013 | R

Starring: Alia Shawkat, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Hader, Johnny Simmons

Summary: Feeling pressured to become more sexually experienced before she goes to college, Brandy Clark makes a list of things to accomplish before hitting campus in the fall.

Director: Maggie Carey

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Eric Kohn

Jul 26, 2013

In "Adventureland" and this summer's "The Way Way Back," disillusioned teens have worked through their issues in the weeks leading up to college by taking on quirky summer jobs. However, Carey's wacky sensibilities retain a notably fresh quality by using the same framing device as an excuse to bat around one funny idea after another. The story transcends the derivative scenario through a noticeable lack of verbal censorship. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Jul 24, 2013

Maybe someday there will be a better commercial comedy about a girl taking charge of her sexual education, but for now, this is the only one we’ve got, and it’s a filthy-fun charmer. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jul 25, 2013

Does Carey go too far? Duh. But why gripe when you can't stop laughing? Read full review

RogerEbert.com Susan Wloszczyna

Jul 26, 2013

A certain sloppiness prevents The To Do List from entering the female coming-of-age pantheon of "Sixteen Candles," "Clueless" and "Mean Girls." Read full review

Alan Scherstuhl

Jul 22, 2013

Like first sex, writer-director Maggie Carey's debut feature, The To Do List, is quick and messy, fitfully pleasurable, full of promise but not quite adept at getting everyone off. Read full review

M. E. Russell

Jul 25, 2013

There's a potentially innovative teen comedy in here somewhere, but it's surrounded by one that's much duller. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Jul 25, 2013

The To Do List is a romantic comedy with no romance and little comedy, but with an ugliness of spirit that's surprising and unrelenting. Read full review

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User Reviews

Asher963

Mar 23, 2014

A great vehicle for Aubrey Plaza and she did great. First time for me seeing her as a lead, would like to see more of it. . Her quirks really came out well here. Also, this is the most I've enjoyed Rachel Bilson. In anything. Ever. And Connie Britton did her bast to steal the show. ThrowA great vehicle for Aubrey Plaza and she did great. First time for me seeing her as a lead, would like to see more of it. . Her quirks really came out well here. Also, this is the most I've enjoyed Rachel Bilson. In anything. Ever. And Connie Britton did her bast to steal the show. Throw in nice performances from Hader, Glover and Skwiat and its quite funny. A truly underrated film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Thegodfatherson

Aug 23, 2013

Despite working in the industry for over a decade, The To Do List is Carey’s first feature and it shows. For better and for worse, it’s clear the writer/director put a lot of heart and passion into the movie. The film successfully marries its 90s backdrop with retro hipster chic and evenDespite working in the industry for over a decade, The To Do List is Carey’s first feature and it shows. For better and for worse, it’s clear the writer/director put a lot of heart and passion into the movie. The film successfully marries its 90s backdrop with retro hipster chic and even makes fun use of its check list premise by punctuating each of Brandy’s conquests in freeze-frame shots labeled with their respective sex acts. Still, while The To Do List throws a lot of creative ideas and jokes at the screen, only a fraction of them are essential to the larger development of the story and characters as if Carey didn’t quite nail the balance between what to include in the final film and what needed to be cut. That said, The To Do List includes plenty of ridiculous (and cringe-inducing) moments that are sure to entertain moviegoers looking for a raunchy teen comedy. The setup may not be as original as it would have been back in the time of the film’s 1993 setting but there are enough clever pop culture references and awkward comedy setups to keep the movie feeling fresh even when it covers ideas that audiences will have seen play-out onscreen before. Carey’s coming of age tale isn’t a must see, but with a strong lead and some honest insight, filmgoers who are intrigued by the premise or the assembled cast have good reason to put the movie on their own To Do List.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SarahMichelle

Nov 23, 2013

This was so funny, It's Dirty and very inappropriate. I love it. Sure it may be very forgetable but the laughs kept cumming ha ha pun and is very entertainng.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ambender

Dec 28, 2013

There are a few big laughs, but the movie's tone is all over the place, and I just couldn't bring myself to root for Aubrey Plaza's unlikeable character.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

Jul 29, 2013

Aubrey Plaza plays an over-achieving HS senior, who sets out to learn all about sex during the summer before college. If this sounds familiar, it's been done many times with guys, so the unoriginal twist is girls! There's every effort to be as verbally crude (sex talk) and visually grossAubrey Plaza plays an over-achieving HS senior, who sets out to learn all about sex during the summer before college. If this sounds familiar, it's been done many times with guys, so the unoriginal twist is girls! There's every effort to be as verbally crude (sex talk) and visually gross (bodily fluids) as possible, but none of it's very funny. Bill Hader provides the only true comic sensibility, while everyone else is just there (and about 10 years too old for their roles). The early 90s references are enjoyable, but so are a few noticeable anachronisms. There's a good-spirited energy that keeps it from being too dull, but nothing about the writing or performances is especially original or amusing.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

amheretojudge

Jun 8, 2018

is actually a not-to-do list

The To Do List The concept is dull, familiar and addition to that the feature completely relies upon it, walks on it and never outgrows it or offers anything more than that. The script is wafer thin and ridiculous to a point where it crosses the sense of ais actually a not-to-do list

The To Do List

The concept is dull, familiar and addition to that the feature completely relies upon it, walks on it and never outgrows it or offers anything more than that. The script is wafer thin and ridiculous to a point where it crosses the sense of a sketchy sequences and derails quickly in its self-created tracks. The trajectory doesn't go as far as one would imagine in fact it is fixated in a mere loop. The technical aspects too are disappointing from sound department to the editing. Maggie Carrey; the writer-director, has done a decent work on executing the premise, but the script is the real culprit in here that never had enough crisp to make it in the first place. Aubrey Plaza fits perfectly for the character projected in here and is supported well by Bill Hader. One of the major conundrum, is the stakes that are depicted, as is never able to communicate with the viewers and everything is acceptable or feasible. The To Do List is actually a not-to-do-list for the viewers, makers and the actors working on something that is deliberately mediocre and dull.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MovieMan12

Jul 28, 2013

Stupid teenage crap. Who in their right mind can honestly say that this was a good movie. It is all about sex sex sex. Is there anything else that haunts these stupid teenager's minds.?

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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