The To Do List

The crude humor indie comedy of the summer has hit, and with it, deadpan specialist Aubrey Plaza. A terrific cast in the vein of Superbad, but a more chick-centric approach to the debauchery that high school age kids experiment with, The To Do List is surprisingly fun.

The year is 1993. Not so long ago that it seems different, but writer and director Maggie Carey hits the cultural trends on the head. Trapper Keepers, Grunge, VCR's, Parker Lewis Can't Lose button up shirts (that's right, I went there), Skorts, etc. They are all ideas typically associated with the era that is unarguably a time of bad fashion and waiting for the next big thing.

Aubrey Plaza is Brandy Klark, a goody-two-shoes that is too successful for her own good. Creator of every academic club, published, accomplished, she is finishing high school and getting ready to head off to college to a world of maturity and seriousness. The only problem is that she hasn't had any of the fun experimentation that goes with being an irresponsible teenager, and she's worried that college will be overwhelming. Enter the To Do List. Ever the organized young woman, she creates a sexual bucket list of all of the raunchy things that she can come up with. She's inspired by her unexplainable newfound cravings for the college-aged Rusty Waters, played by Scott Porter. Her two best friends, Fiona and Wendy, played by Alia Shawkat and Sarah Steele are the perfect complements to her rigid and rule-abiding uptight debutante. They push her and prod her to loosen up, without being overly aggressive. The three of them are young, inexperienced, and talk like the girls from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Brandy's friends help her along her journey, navigating obstacles like her conservative, yet very realistic parents (Connie Britton and Clark Gregg), her slutty older sister and her constant put downs (Rachel Bilson), and the high school boy who has loved her forever but has never had the guts to say so (Johnny Simmons). Bill Hader and Andy Samberg add comedic depth to the ensemble, and the overall tone is light and airy. Complete with an embarrassing song number at the end (Bridesmaids, This is the End, yada yada yada) The To Do List is a well-rounded, fresh, red band comedy that brings you back to the early 90's, but without the awkward realism.

To keep herself occupied during her summer, Brandy gets a job as a lifeguard at the local public pool, and that is where the film anchors. She works with both her crush and crushee (not sure how to say that) and her friends visit her often as she slowly realizes that it's OK to just have fun sometimes.

Aubrey Plaza, who is so good as Parks and Recreation's April, delivers comic gold. She embraces all of the uncomfortable scenes and sequences with a nonchalant attitude and is virtually fearless as she tackles the taboo. The artful success is that it is borderline crude, but stays just on the right side of offensive. It tiptoes, but doesn't quite cross it, much like Something About Mary. Lots of semen jokes, but tastefully done of course. She's quickly becoming the next Parker Posey; an indie icon. Let's just hope she sticks to picking good roles while the iron's hot.

Connie Britton and Clark Gregg are a great match as the parents who have a little sexual tension themselves. They follow in the long line of strict, high expectant cinematic parents who raise a great kid, but reluctantly let her spread her wings (or legs) and become an adult. Connie Britton just has a way about her that is Southern charm and "hey y'all" smiles all the way. She is just so happy all the time. Her matter-of-fact sex talks evoke the discomfort of her kids, and Clark Gregg seems almost more uncomfortable than the kids, but it's entertaining. Rachel Bilson is the best part of this film though. She typically plays such good-girl parts, it's fun to see her let loose with the insults and 90's verbiage.

Writer/Director Maggie Carey, who has been flying under the radar since 2001, most notably as a part of the Funny or Die vignettes, is climbing the ranks. As a comedy writer, she might be the next Diablo Cody, or Lena Dunham. OK, maybe not either, but she definitely has a future in the writer's room, and will be hanging around Hollywood for awhile. Did I mention she's Bill Hader's wife? That doesn't hurt either, to be in that circle.

The To Do List isn't anything new or even great, but it is fun. Raunchy teen comedy fun. The biggest difference being that it's from the female perspective in an otherwise male dominated genre. If you're a child of the 90's, as I was, you'll enjoy the references and subtleties. 8/10.