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The To Do List Review

By Lexi Feinberg

Sex Marks The Spot

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Aubrey Plaza brings her dry, sarcastic Daria-esque persona to "The To-Do List," an R-rated sex comedy made by and aimed at females. It is a whole lot funnier than it should be, and the steady stream of 90s references will bring on the nostalgia for anyone in their 30s. Hooray for Trapper Keepers and Mazzy Star!

It's 1993 in Boise, Idaho. Before heading off to college, virgin Valedictorian Brandy (Plaza) opts to write a list of all the sexual things she should do prior to hitting the dorms. You know, so she has some experience, suggests her two best friends (Alia Shawkat and Sarah Steele). She is dragged to a college party and sees Rusty Waters (a beefed-up Scott Porter) playing the guitar, and decides she will sleep with him as the final item on her list. Before that there are handjobs, blowjobs, and all kinds of other activities that she can do with other people.

This comedy is all about sex and raunchiness, and it doesn't get all romantic or sentimental in any way. Writer-director Maggie Carey ensures that Brandy comes of age sexually and does lots of out-there things - like using butter in a movie theater to pleasure her study buddy Cameron (Johnny Simmons) - without falling into typical traps laid out in these sorts of movies. She doesn't fall in love with Rusty, or Cameron, or any other guy she gets involved with. She also realizes after a while that sex is important but not the biggest deal in the world. There is way less emotion here than in "American Pie", oddly enough.

The performances are all entertaining, from Bill Hader as Brandy's mocking lifeguard manager, to Rachel Bilson, as her glammed-up sassy sister. It is a non-serious, silly sex comedy through and through, and it's more suggestive than showy. Everyone is (deliberately) way older than the ages they are playing, which brings back 90210 flashbacks. The soundtrack has catchy tunes from 2 Live Crew, Tears for Fears and James, so lots of fun there, and the movie features Hypercolor shirts and skorts. It's not the best sex around, but if you don't take it too seriously, you just might enjoy it.

What did you think?

Movie title The To Do List
Release year 2013
MPAA Rating R
Our rating
Summary This raunchy female-aimed sex comedy is like casual sex: if you don't take it too seriously, you just might enjoy it.
View all articles by Lexi Feinberg
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