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The F**k-It List

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The F**k-It List
Release poster
Directed byMichael Duggan
Written by
  • Michael Duggan
  • Dan McDermott
Produced by
  • Michael Duggan
  • Dan McDermott
  • Matthew Signer
Starring
CinematographyChristopher Hamilton
Edited byBruce Green
Music byJimmy LaValle
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • July 1, 2020 (2020-07-01)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The F**k-It List is a 2020 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film co-written and directed by Michael Duggan in his feature directorial debut. It follows a straight-laced high school senior (Eli Brown) whose involvement in a prank-related accident realigns his life, which is compounded when he creates a version of a bucket list about a life he wished he had lived beyond chasing grades and college acceptances.[1] The film was released on Netflix on July 1, 2020,[2] and was removed from the service on April 1, 2023.[3]

Plot

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Brett Blackmore's pushy parents are excitedly celebrating his acceptance into seven out of eight Ivy League schools (including bragging to their friends, the school, the local paper) with Harvard being the only one he is wait-listed for. When his friends—Nico, Clint, Les, and Stacy—take him to break into the school to play a benign prank, they accidentally blow up one of the buildings. He is the only one identified from this and, as a result, he loses his acceptance.

After sharing a brief kiss with Kayla (interrupted by the brash Ted), Brett records a video ranting about being forced down a path he did not choose, including a "fuck-it list" of things he wishes he had done if he was not scared it would affect his future. He posts it to his friendship group but accidentally posts it publicly. The post goes viral on a small scale (1000+ views overnight). His parents scheme to get him accepted by Harvard, including making advances to their friend Barry who is also a board member of Harvard.

Kayla appreciates Brett's list and says that she needs his help to start checking items off of the one she has made as a result. This involves smashing the expensive Mustang belonging to her mother's alcoholic and abusive boyfriend, which she says she never had the guts to do before Brett's post. The boyfriend spots them and they drive off and spend the day together, including discussion of their mutual lists and Brett's public performance of "Wild Thing" on Venice Beach. Kayla is signed to Ted's father's modeling agency, where she will be working in Europe over the summer to afford school, but she has to entertain the annoying Ted as a result.

Kayla reveals she has nowhere to go after smashing the car, and Brett refuses to help her in service of getting "back on track". She storms off but does later post a good-luck message to him. His list continues to gain traction online in the meantime, which affects his meeting with the principal and results in his inability to graduate high school. His parents berate him and he drives off in his father's car to the Rocks to meet his friends. They spread the word and a large number of other teenagers turn up to burn their school books together. The fire attracts attention for the list and he is called by a PR representative to help him monetize it. The police turn up to reveal he could be considered as inciting crime.

The dean of Harvard calls Barry to say that she wants to offer him a place as an iconoclast and disruptor. Meanwhile, Kayla finally agrees to see Brett and they make up. Brett has to write an essay to gain entry to Harvard, but he seems uninspired by it. He drops in on his friends' graduation to learn that Kayla's mother's boyfriend pressed charges for smashing up his car. Upon learning from Les that Dee was previously a valedictorian, he turns his Harvard essay into a new rant about the education system and success, rejecting them. His mother opens up to him, apologizing for pushing him and saying that they are on board with his decisions. Brett hits three million followers and Harvard says they loved his essay, offering him a place. Shortly afterward, Kayla is told that in order to work in the industry, she will need to attend to rich clients. Brett arrives in Spain to persuade her to travel with him instead (after rejecting Harvard again) which she is happy to do—both subscribing to the "fuck-it" attitude. Brett tells Kayla that he was offered a visiting professorship.

Cast

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Production

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Production began in 2018 by Awesomeness Films.[4] It was Michael Duggan's directorial debut, though he had been writing and producing in the industry for several years.

Reception

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Inkoo Kang from The Hollywood Reporter criticized the film for being tone deaf and unrealistic.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Serba, John (July 2, 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'The F**k It List' on Netflix, a Tone Deaf Blend of Teen Comedy and Coming-of-Age Drama". Decider. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  2. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (June 30, 2020). "Netflix's New Releases Coming in July". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (April 22, 2023). "Netflix is removing all of these movies this week". The Independent. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  4. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (July 11, 2018). "Awesomeness Films Sets Cast For High School Comedy From Dan McDermott & Michael Duggan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 10, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Kang, Inkoo (June 30, 2020). "'The F**k-It List': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
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