Adult Life Skills (2016) User Reviews (34)

Ya gotta love movies about living in your parents' shed

[rooprect · 7/10 · 15 May 2021]

I can think of 2 fun comedies that involve characters who live in a shed: "Almost Sharkproof" (2014) and this one "Adult Life Skills". Well then there's also Silence of the Lambs but that's something uh different.

As you might guess from the premise, "Adult Life Skills" is about a 30 year old woman who doesn't know what to do with her life. Socially and emotionally stunted for reasons you will learn early in the flick, "Anna" (Jodie Whitaker) is an overgrown adolescent who spends her days talking to her thumbs and who can't manage to put on a bra without severely embarrassing herself. With her 30th birthday looming, her mom gives her an ultimatum which is basically the entire plot of the film: move out of the shed. Get a life. And she has about 1 week to do it.

What we get is a cute, quirky, at times tragic, at times magical story about her reluctant attempted transformation into an adult. The film is very minimal, consisting of a shed, the bottom floor of a house, a childrens camp where she works, and the landscape of a tiny rural town where nothing seems to happen except that people occasionally die off. The whole production is marvelously carried by a witty script and some rapid fire banter in funny accents (I dunno, are they "accents"? Being from America I figure everything outside of Connecticut is an accent). The film's narrow scope works tremendously to its advantage as we are forced to scrutinize small details of everyday life rather than epic dramas of wars and romance. Although there are tragic themes, it's handled off camera so we see only how it affects the characters in an unspoken way. And although there is a slight romance angle here, it's done in a hilariously awkward way (the snogging scene had me in stitches).

There aren't too many films like this, but I might compare it to the excellent 2017 indie film "Izzy Gets the F* Across Town" which is entirely about a young woman trying to ...get the f* across town. Here we have a story that could've had the alternate title "Anna Moves the F* Out Of Her Shed". You've probably never seen a movie quite like this, so don't miss it.

Good

[pswanson00 · 7/10 · 22 October 2019]

I picked this up at the library because I only knew Jodie Whittaker from Doctor Who, and I wanted to see her in another context. This film is touching and funny, and I like it. The only problem I had was understanding the dialogue. I watch British television shows and movies frequently, like 2 or 3 per week, and usually have no problem with the various regional accents. These people I had much difficulty understanding. I'm thankful that I was watching it on disc, and could run it back to repeat; I did that with about 1/4 of the dialogue. Of course this had to be one of the few DVDs which does not have subtitles available. It needs them.

Impressive

[pauliecorleone-72628 · 7/10 · 6 March 2017]

Started off kinda meekly, I was quickly losing interest when I thought I was about to waste my time on yet another childish portrayal of a delayed adulthood, shoulders stubbornly stuck in the vaginal walls of a happier past, a past that made sense -- whereas renting an apartment, paying bills etc, obviously doesn't.

Well. I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong. Wruh-uh-ong. This is a great little movie -- funny, lighthearted, and still, the dramatic elements are so strong and wonderfully structured, proving entirely capable of planting a lump in your throat the size of a goddamned walnut.

Nothing more to say. Watch this. It's good.

Ozzy and Jodie

[ferguson-6 · 6/10 · 17 January 2019]

Greetings again from the darkness. Each of us deals with grief in our own way, and often it's even more challenging to help a grieving loved one. Loss and grief are at the core of writer-director Rachel Tunnard's feature length film developed from her award winning short, EMOTIONAL FUSEBOX (2014).

When first we meet Anna, she is creating a space-oriented home video using aluminum foil and her thumbs. Yes, Anna is an adult - mere days from her 30th birthday. She's not the type to live in her mom's basement ... no, instead she lives in the cluttered garden shed in her mom's backyard. The play on words for the shed clues us in to Anna's quirky personality (as if the foil spaceship and thumb faces hadn't already done so). The Anna we see currently has no place for humor in her life.

Anna is struggling with the grief associated with losing her twin brother - a brother she was extremely close to. She's challenged daily by the fine line between sorrow and depression, and is regularly late to her job at an outdoor camp for kids. Her morning routine includes drying her clothes in the microwave and bickering with her mother (Lorraine Ashbourne) over finding a boyfriend and new place to live. Mom has demanded Anna move out of the shed by her birthday.

Others in Anna's life include her grandmother (Eileen Davies), Anna's close friend Fiona (Rachael Deering), and local real estate agent Brendan (Brett Goldstein) who may or may not be on the spectrum, is constantly refuting assumptions that he is gay, and undoubtedly has an unrequited crush on Anna. Each of these folks tries in their own way to pull Anna from her funk and get her back to living. Surprisingly, the turn occurs when she is forced to look after a neighbor boy named Clint when his mother gets rushed to the hospital. Clint is an odd kid who wears cowboy attire and proclaims his desire to be like Anna ... and they are more similar than she would care to admit initially.

Jodie Whitaker plays Anna and newcomer Ozzy Myers is Clint. Young Mr. Myers excels in his role, never going over-the-top with his offbeat tendencies. Ms. Whitaker ("Doctor Who") first charmed us on screen with her role in VENUS (2006) and she proves yet again what an accomplished actress she is ... likable and relatable. Here she turns an arrested development 30 year old hermit into someone we pull for. The film is filled with awkward interactions, each grounded in reality.

Of course, there is really nothing cute or charming about a 30 year old who hasn't yet grown up, but slack and understanding is due here because of the grief. And it's difficult to name another film character who could count mole hills daily and make it seem natural. Just remember that when a kid says they want to be like you, take it seriously - even if it's because you are sad and lonely. Ms. Tunnard's film is a bittersweet comedy that's not too bitter, not too sweet, and not overly funny. It's simply a fine little indie movie with a terrific performance from a talented actress.

charming Whittaker

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 8 March 2018]

Anna (Jodie Whittaker) is stagnant approaching 30. She has been living in her mother's garden shed for the last 18 months. She makes internet videos which she used to make with her late twin brother Billy. Her mother Marion is frustrated trying evict her out of the shed. Anna works at a children day camp with her friend Fiona and Brendan who has a crush on her. Clint is a peculiar boy who doesn't fit in with the other kids. When his mother is hospitalized, Anna is tasked with caring for the boy.

This is a standard stunted adulthood dramedy. It has some fun with the very appealing Jodie Whittaker. There is a functional romantic component but the male lead is not that charismatic. I wonder if it would be more compelling to lose the sputtering romance in favor of the kiddie relationship. The movie also introduces Billy rather late in the movie. Overall, the central appeal is the charismatic Whittaker and she drives this with a comedic charm.

Quirky And Fun, But Slow All The Way Through

[TheHoodOfSwords · 6/10 · 26 December 2019]

First off, I laughed so hard hearing Jodie swear. After watching her play The Doctor it was hilarious. Past that though this film is complicated, it deals with loss and grief and learning to overcome these things. If you like a movie that is slow but meaningful this will be for you, but for me parts of it felt boring and slow. Jodie does a good job though, and the film has this sort of appeal that I can see myself watching it again at 3AM.

Not enough character development for such a thin story line

[braddc-591-469585 · 4/10 · 15 March 2020]

I wanted to like this more, I loved the characters, what little we learn about them. So I guess the acting is the only strong point: they sold me on the characters but the plot never tells us anything about them. Needed either much more story or much more character development. As it is, just a really thin, though promising story. :(

A lovely little gem

[nomad-73 · 9/10 · 7 March 2017]

First of all I am not a native speaker.

Well. I must say I have fallen in love with this movie. It's one of those beautifully crafted little gems that have heart and depth and just make you smile and also cry a little bit. Sure, there are other (more ambitious) movies out there tackling the same theme - going through life, losing and finding and coping and surviving and not being alone - but I just love the simplicity and kind of raw honesty of this one.

Anyway, to sum it up - characters are quirky and lovable, dialogues smart and funny and I can only recommend this movie if you are in a mood for something slow yet uplifting.

Well made but misguided

[CharmingNewSociety · 6/10 · 29 December 2019]

This film is well made, beautifully shot, and superbly acted. But I feel the message is ultimately misguided. The film seems to side with the idea that you can, and should, force people out of their grief. It also seems to support very narrow ideas about what adulthood means.

Whittaker is better in this than Dr Who.

[stevejones-51695 · 5/10 · 12 June 2020]

Boring for first 30 odd minutes but improves as you eventually begin to identify with the characters. Better than watching Dr Who.

Well Crafted

[onesimplethingdoug · 9/10 · 4 January 2020]

Excellent filming and acting. Quirky, definitely yes. Slow at times, but if you have a natural curiosity about why so much weirdness is going on, you will be rewarded. This is a journey with real humans struggling with the grief that pervades their lives. Immensely satisfying finish. The low ratings come from people who like formula films that keep them entertained with action, not dialogue. If like reading books or plays built on dialogue between characters instead of titillation with thrills and suspense, you will love this film.

There's a reason this film only made £103,000

[Boristhemoggy · 3/10 · 18 June 2020]

The reason is because it's utter trash and will only appeal to a tiny percentage of film goers. It's very annoying in most parts, and the main amount of dialogue is people shouting at each other and being angry. After even 30 minutes of that it brings you down and depresses you. On top of that is obscure, discordant, jangling music that is far too loud and starts and stops at seeming random times. Not a lot of the add things people do in the film is explained so you're left wondering...WTH...? I am amazed I managed to watch it through to the end cos my inner sanity voice was screaming at me for an hour to turn it off but I continued watching it in some form of masochism. Conclusion? If you are a Jodie Whittaker obsessive watch it as there are so many scenes with her in. Otherwise, don't bore and depress yourself, give it a wide berth.

The British film industy is dead.

[nigelmacdonald-97173 · 2/10 · 14 June 2020]

Gave up after half an hour of nothing happening. Just the usual attempts at whacky characters doing super mundane things.

Great British film!

[maccas-56367 · 8/10 · 25 January 2019]

I really enjoyed this Brit indie film. Was way more emotional and heavy than I anticipated for my Saturday afternoon though!

Incredibly touching film about grief, friendship, your late 20s and moving forward in life. I'm sure I'm not the only one that could relate to lots in this - and I'm a guy.

It was quite cleverly written, with the storylines coming together for what I felt was an awesome ending - so if you find it slow-going in the beginning, stick with it!

If you like 'Happy Go Lucky' or 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl' then you'll probably love this.

I'm going to go crank some Whitesnake now.

Time waster

[ridgeback-610-640427 · 1/10 · 22 July 2019]

Well I thought I had seen some boring uneventful movies in my dy ,But this thing takes the cake,,,It goes round in circles ,and still even after you wake up...dont waste your time .

One should get a badge for mastering adult life skills.

[skyemail-79755 · 8/10 · 24 April 2017]

Hannah, after losing her twin brother 18 months ago, has moved into her mother's shed and has stubbornly refused to move on. She and her brother were very creative together and she continues her creative efforts by making videos of thumb puppets traveling in space which earns her constant criticism from her mother, who has taken a tough love approach to forcing Hannah to move on by forcing her to vacate the shed by her 30th birthday.

Hannah's mother, grandmother, suitor, and girlfriend are all delightfully quirky. If you like quirky, this movie is for you. These characters are not one dimensional, but all have strengths and flaws that are shown to us by a very gifted writer/director.

One explosion, no car chases, and no gratuitous violence make this a movie that does not waste ones time with formulaic nonsense for the brain dead. Instead it illustrates through actions the panic and struggle of letting go a loss so great that one thinks her life will never be the same, that it's impossible to move on. And the film illustrates the jolts of losing the precious things, one at a time, that keep her isolated and bound to her dead twin.

Yet there is nothing morbid or overly dramatic in this presentation. The film is full of humor. Hannah must look after a young boy whose mother is dying, knowing what he will face. Yet he's a young cowboy and his own quirkiness mirrors Hannah's, as does his journey. Hannah is pursued awkwardly by Brandon, a somewhat shy individual who manages to approach her at the worst times, like when she's peeing behind a boat. And her dead twin appears to her in snorkeling gear which may be a clue to his death, or just his sense of humor.

There's not a surprise ending to spoil. This movie is about the journey and not the outcome and like all good films, it's made up of moments which are captivating to watch and feel as well as some good laughs along the way. I highly recommend it.

Meandering

[westsideschl · 3/10 · 31 March 2019]

No subtitles along w/England English the more difficult of the English dialects for all others to understand especially when enunciation & audio levels are poor. Thus dialogue is of low importance. Not sure where this story was heading, but if you like an idiosyncratic young women living in mom's garden shed then this is for you. A forgettable 90 min.

Mostly boring and depressing but apparently a quality production

[vchimpanzee · 10 August 2020]

The movie is at its best when Anna and Clint are together. Clint is quite appealing, from the time he solves his class murder mystery by saying Anna is alive, so there's no murder.

I should point out that kids Clint's age should not watch this movie. There is so much bad language bleeped out (with the character's mouth blurred) that sometimes it is hard to tell what is going on.

Brendan is quite appealing and you want him and Anna together, if they can be.'

And early in the movie something has been found the name of which can't be mentioned, and it cannot be shown either.

So will Anna get her life straightened out? I can say this much. There is one development that makes a big impression on Anna, and on us. I would say the ending, too, is satisfying.

This is one of those low-key examples of British comedy. I've seen laugh-out-loud comedy made by Brits, but this isn't that. For someone with my taste, it's not that easy to enjoy.

However, Jodie Whittaker is appealing in her way. She's just more of a challenge than the cute perky type I'm used to.

Pretty much everyone does a good job acting. I've mentioned Ozzy Myers as Clint.

One effective scene has little or no audio from the actual video, where everything moves slowly and Anna is confronted by this wacko dressed for diving in a dance club, and she runs away frightened.. In a later scene, I realize she is seeing Billy, because she sees him and no one else does.

The music is mostly depressing folk or folk rock. Hearing "Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake was encouraging until I actually heard the song and realized it was the same, only with synthesizers instead of guitar. Then when guitars are introduced, the song is just loud.

If you are the type who likes poetry readings and indie films and criticizes anything too commercial, I think you'll like this. That's just not me.

Beautiful Filming of Disjointed Scenes, Drab Music

[sfumatosprocket · 3/10 · 12 December 2021]

This is one of those Indy projects the 'in' crowd convinces each other they are hip to like. No fault of cast nor photographer team, as they are excellent.

But the thick cockney accents and jerky script scene direction shifts make it almost a professional effort to hone the ear to make any sense of each scene.

There are also excessive time spent showing primarily the main character typing on her laptop, and even on my 50" tv, nothing she's typing is big enough on the screen to be legible plus the fleeting views cut away so fast, even if it was legible, probably not enough time to make sense of entire screen...why so many scenes wasted on that?!

Most of the music is dour, drab like some of the scenes, and just adds to an agony about this effort...you want it to get good, make its points, but between so much disjointed scene transition and the hideous cockney chortle, it's only a film a fully cockney speaking person could keep up with. Not a fair score to some perhaps, but from most Americans' ear, the dialogue is only perhaps 50% decipherable as it's spoken, and that dynamic consumes your mental attention. It takes on a 'chore' mindset to catch a complete sentence, that combined with the poor directorial edits and scenes that don't mesh, it's a subdued mess.

It's a good film for those in filmmaking industry to see what can still go wrong with strong acting and photography that it's not enough to resonate.

Awards for this film are bizarre, as are high scores. Anyone giving this over a 6 are kidding themselves...the 8 & 9 scores, really?! That's simply dishonest sorry but take the top Michael Caine movies that truly earn an 8 or 9, or Nicholson etc...this movie isn't as good as even the WORST Caine or Nicholson movie to be honest. Bias aside, take your pick of Meryl Streep Betty Davis Heddy Lamar etc catalog, and someone scoring this like it's some 'timeless classic' ... It's alarming.

And dishonest.

Jodie shines. And yes, there were tears!

[duvetto · 9/10 · 8 March 2020]

A wonderfully emotive story that shows grief and humour can inhabit the same space and not only make sense but can be the perfect pairing. I found myself invested very early on thanks to Jodie Whittaker's particular portrayal of her character. There were at least three times when the expression on her face alone conveyed so much without words, that my eyes filled up. And then there'd be a segue into something that made me chuckle and force the tears to roll down my cheeks. Ozzy did a fabulous job as well, I can't imagine it was an easy ask for either of those leads to pitch it just right, but imho they nailed it. I really enjoyed the importance given to the soundtrack too.

likeable, but also asking too much from the (varied) audience

[welshnew50 · 3/10 · 12 September 2019]

This film is almost instantly recognisable as a film that has been made since the choice, not accident, but choice, of some directors and editors, if not also producers, to perpetuate female characters' supposed gender-dependent vulnerabilities, as-distinct-from mens'-vulnerabilities,..

... it is therefore both sexist and tiring, and if i were to go off on a tirade about it, bereating both male and female perpetuators of the myths of women's and men's ... whichevers... it'd start with 2 points, but i'll stop there, or this review would go on for an hour.

1 regressives/ppl who've regressed mmm ... 'over something', can regress into states that (at least) used to, have anxiety,.. inseparably associated with whatever irrational behaviour/states they get into, but they don't necessarily, and depending on whether or not the original external perceived-threats are still there or not,.. only SOMEtimes, have the same states, particularly,.. so while many of the in-the-wider-world concerns she had would still be external, and THEY, would cause her anxiety,.. a film that then spent TIME, cinematically, and directionally,.. and visually,.. on THOSE things, that caused what they cause in her,..

...by constrast, a film that band-aids a SOURCE OF ANXIETY, by having a life-drama ... when clearly the film concept/s are MEANT, to be moreso about / moreso contrasting what have not become established skills in her,..

... is... pffffffff.

Could've gone somewhere that would stick to the actual psychology of regression,..

... but no. Another senstionalist ended-up-a-turd in a shoe, for some perceiving sentimentality at Canne / wherever,..

COMPLETELY missing the point, about what to NOT, do, about mental health, so as to both expose it for what it really is,.. and to also retain your credibility / long-term retention of the film.

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Instead, the more people RE-watch this film, i have no doubt, the more they will score it lower, it not much lower, the subsequent times around, until they get sick of it.

oh, yes, and of course, the unnecessary someone-else's-interpretation- of-what-talking-to-someone-imaginary, neccessarily means.

GROW UP, director/producer/acting/editors, of this one.

there is a single word, that can apply to many if not most, supposedly 'enough', to go straight to accusations of hallucinations...

REHERSAL.

many simply PRETEND, that something is there, to think things through, when they are alone, or to work-through, their own predictions of others' behaviour , you might be familiar with it,.. its called ACTING OUT ROLES.

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does tend to happen in films a bit,.. that.

Helen Razer... where are you, you lusty-beast. destroy, this film.

Found a jewel here

[MariaLovesWentworthPrison · 10/10 · 13 July 2017]

What a movie! The actors are fantastic, beginning with Jodie Whittaker who is just captivating. I laughed, I cried, I laughed and cried again. I love it when a movie moves me, touches me, grips me. This little treasure sure did. And after the closing credits (with one of my favorite songs) I knew I just fell in love with it. If anyone ever watched "Jackie" with Holly Hunter knows what I am talking about. This big fat grinning on the face while watching the whole credits and that good feel that stays for hours after the film ended. That's how I felt after watching "Adult Life Skills".

why the low reviews?

[alicemwestlake · 8/10 · 21 November 2018]

In my opinion, this film deals with sensitive issues very well while also being one of the funniest films I've ever seen. That duality is hard to find in film. I might just be really really biased because I love her, but you have got to admit, Jodie's performance as Anna is absolutely astounding. The climax of the film, in which Clint goes missing and she has somewhat of a breakdown of emotions is just, indescribably good. The amount of care and detail put into his film is also extremely applaudable. Without watching any behind the scenes footage, you can tell that every actor and crew member cared for this film. It is visible throughout and makes the viewing experience all the more delightful. Sure, it has some flaws, but they are all very small. Anyways, doesn't every film have flaws? No film is perfect. This film certainly does not deserve a 6.2/10. It has been incredibly overlooked and it is a real shame. This film is honestly one of the best I've seen in a while and has very welcomingly earned a place on my favourite film list. More people should watch this. I guarantee you will find at least one character, theme or aspect of the film you will be able to relate to. And I guarantee you that you will laugh.

So for that, a soulfully give Adult Life Skills a big fat 8 stars because it truly deserves it.

A lovely film by Rachel Tunnard

[julianamaress · 8/10 · 5 March 2019]

In classic indie style, this is a gentle but fairly stylised portrayal of bereavement, survivor's guilt and moving on. For something billed as a comedy it didn't make me laugh much, but it did engage me enough that I sobbed throughout the closing credits, so it clearly did something right. A promising debut from director/writer/editor Rachel Tunnard.

Quirky, offbeat, very emotional, occasionally awkward, quite moving film.

[spikenard222 · 9/10 · 31 August 2020]

A local channel has been playing this film like every Sunday lately. I put it on out of boredom one day, knowing nothing about it, and was slowly drawn in by Anna's journey towards her 30th birthday, a journey about much more than turning 30. It starts off as a bit of a sleeper, but once you start piecing together what's really going on, it's really quite moving. I've seen it twice more, and each time I spot more layers of foreshadowing and double meanings. Perhaps the film is an acquired taste, or perhaps it is finding me at an emotionally vulnerable moment in life and is saying something to me. The British dialect was hard for me to understand sometimes, and I took off one star because of excessive vulgarity. But the characters are quirky and memorable, I love the cinematic feel of the country scenery, I found the music to be on point in a contemporary pop way, and apart from the vulgarity the dialogue can be quite witty in that inimitable British style.