How to Be
How to Be
NR | 18 January 2008 (USA)
How to Be Trailers

A young man having an existential crisis convinces a Canadian self-help guru to come to London and become his personal life coach.

Reviews
Lars Wick

This was a great movie - hilarious, even though I was definitely skeptical of Robert Pattinson's acting ability - and the premise was really too funny and too fitting for way too many people. Art is so pathetic. I swear, it was like watching a high brow Napoleon Dynamite. I wouldn't call the humor British. I mean, it's essentially the same as what you see in a lot of ridiculous, character-driven comedies where the characters themselves are totally unaware of just how funny they're being. The humor is just very dead pan, and I think some people watch the film expecting something more sophisticated or thoughtful. Sure, it's more profound than Napoleon Dynamite, but the idea of simultaneously gawking at and rooting for such a bizarre and socially impotent character is basically the same in both films. This is really among my favorite movies, just because it captures that strange moment of self-loathing self-obsession that lots of people go through right around the time of the quarter life crisis.

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Gabrielle Lajoie

In my opinion, I thought this was a wonderful film for anybody who can relate. I've recently lived through this type of situation and the confusion, sadness and disjointedness Art feels trough out the film is all very... what word would be best to describe this... exact. Or almost. The film has been given the title of a comedy and, I agree. Though the production is more of a drama, you do have your sudden outbursts of laughter in those unexpected moments of comedic weirdness. I also appreciated the range of different actors in the film. It's in these types of movies you can actually see real acting talent. It's a must watch for any teen who is lost right now.

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michelle-bird

I was one of the lucky ones to see this movie at Slamdance. I absolutely loved this movie. "This is not your typical Robert Pattinson movie. He doesn't play a good-looking, heart-throb. Robert plays Art, an insecure, confused, depressed, misfit who has no direction, no real social skills, and no support from his parents. His only love is music, but he sucks at that too. After the break up from his girlfriend, he basically looses it and has to move back in with his parents. This is his struggle to become "normal" so his parents and friends will accept and love him. He even goes to the extreme of hiring a self-help professional to help him. You will feel so sad for Art – trust me! Don't get me wrong, this movie contains endless British humor to lighten the subject up. A wonderful independent movie with a great message. A job well done for Robert Pattinson.

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SaintCrystal

The funny thing about this film is in the first 3 minutes I'm saying to myself, that's Cedric Diggory, being the ignorant American I am. But after the 4th minute I could see no one but Art, the lovable and pathetic loser who just doesn't know how to get a handle on his life because he has no one to validate his existence. His parents loath him, his girlfriend dumps him, and his new age therapist seems to need Art more than Art needs him in the end. I came home from seeing this movie at Slamdance and described it to someone as "my life, except 20 something, and a guy, and in London, but other than that, EXACTLY my life!" The people I saw it with at Slamdance didn't get it, but they had much more "normal" upbringings. Like I said, I loved this movie because I could identify so much with it, and at the same time it was almost unbearable to watch because I saw so much of myself, the parts I'd rather leave to my own past. I commend the cast and crew for a very funny and heartfelt movie, and recommend everyone watch it with an open mind. It may not be your life, but it was someone's.

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