Things To Do Before You're 30
Encyclopedia
Things to Do Before You're 30 (2004
) is a British
film
about a group of twenty-something friends trying desperately to hang on to the friendship of their youth while the responsibility of adulthood is tearing them in different directions. It was written by Patrick Wilde
, based on the 1997 Dutch
feature film, All Stars
, written by Mischa Alexander and Jean van de Velde.
Things to Do Before You're 30 is set in Greenwich
, London
with a large ensemble cast including Dougray Scott
, Emilia Fox
, Billie Piper
, Jimi Mistry
, Shaun Parkes
, Bruce Mackinnon
, George Innes
, George Irving
, Rosie Cavaliero
, Nina Young
, David Paul West
& Neil McGuinness.
) started a boys football team called Athletico Greenwich. Twenty years later six of the lads are still playing for the team, but things have gotten so much more complicated.
Cass (Dougray Scott
), the team's top scorer on and off the pitch, isn't sure he's ready for fatherhood with Kate (Emilia Fox
), the love of his life. Adam (Shaun Parkes
) still hasn't told the rest of the team he's gay. Colin (Bruce Mackinnon
) is desperate to have a threesome even though he's just started going out with the lovely Vicky (Billie Piper
). Dylan (Jimi Mistry
) is in love with the woman his father is about to marry. Billy (Roger Morlidge) is trying to save his marriage. Johnny (Danny Nevill) is not ready to accept the fact that his father, who started the team all those years ago, is dying.
Whilst it is the Sunday football team that keeps this group of friends together, this is not a film about football. We never even see a ball get kicked. This is a film about complex relationships, and how childhood friends have to change as they mature.
in 2004, and received largely negative reviews, Channel 4 Film
calling it a "charmless film full of gender clichés and lumpen dialogue. Not one to put on your 'things to do' list."
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
about a group of twenty-something friends trying desperately to hang on to the friendship of their youth while the responsibility of adulthood is tearing them in different directions. It was written by Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde
Patrick Wilde is an English playwright and screenwriter for both television and film.-Early work:Most of Wilde's early work was centred around the classics. He played Hamlet, Mark Antony for ATC and Amnon in Tirso de Molina’s Rape of Tamar at the Lyric in London...
, based on the 1997 Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
feature film, All Stars
All Stars (film)
All Stars is a 1997 Dutch sports comedy film drama directed by Jean van de Velde. Together with Mischa Alexander he was also responsible for the script. The film premièred on 2 may 1997....
, written by Mischa Alexander and Jean van de Velde.
Things to Do Before You're 30 is set in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with a large ensemble cast including Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
, Emilia Fox
Emilia Fox
Emilia Rose Elizabeth Fox is an award-winning English actress, known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on BBC crime drama Silent Witness, having joined the cast in 2004 following the departure of Amanda Burton. She also appears as Morgause in the BBC's Merlin beginning in the programme's second...
, Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
, Jimi Mistry
Jimi Mistry
-Early life:Mistry, was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England to an Indian Hindu father and an Irish Roman Catholic mother. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and attended St. James' Catholic High in Cheadle Hulme before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School...
, Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes is an English actor currently appearing in the ITV drama Identity.-Biography:At 16 he enrolled at Seltec College to study drama, two years later he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Career:...
, Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon is an actor who has appeared in various television programmes.Mackinnon was born in Esher, Surrey and was educated at Eton College, before studying drama at The University of Manchester...
, George Innes
George Innes
George Innes is an English actor.-Stage career:He began his career on the stage with the National Theatre of Great Britain under Laurence Olivier. Before that, he trained at Toynbee Hall and evening classes at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art , where he was awarded the Shakespeare Cup...
, George Irving
George Irving (English actor)
George Irving is a British actor who is probably most famous for playing Anton Meyer in Holby City from 1999 to 2002...
, Rosie Cavaliero
Rosie Cavaliero
Rosie Cavaliero is an English actress.She was trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.- Television and film work :* The Crimson Petal and the White - Jennifer Pierce * Jane Eyre - Grace Poole...
, Nina Young
Nina Young
-Family:She is the daughter of Perth businessman Peter Young and Tania Verstak, a woman of Russian origin who was Miss Australia 1961 and Miss International 1962.-Career:Her acting career has spanned sixteen years so far, from 1994 to present...
, David Paul West
David Paul West
David Paul West is a British theatre and film actor. He was born in Thornaby-on-Tees and trained at the Academy Drama School in London.-Career:In 1998, David was the voice of Audrey II in the Lost Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors...
& Neil McGuinness.
Synopsis
In 1983 Don Robson (George InnesGeorge Innes
George Innes is an English actor.-Stage career:He began his career on the stage with the National Theatre of Great Britain under Laurence Olivier. Before that, he trained at Toynbee Hall and evening classes at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art , where he was awarded the Shakespeare Cup...
) started a boys football team called Athletico Greenwich. Twenty years later six of the lads are still playing for the team, but things have gotten so much more complicated.
Cass (Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
), the team's top scorer on and off the pitch, isn't sure he's ready for fatherhood with Kate (Emilia Fox
Emilia Fox
Emilia Rose Elizabeth Fox is an award-winning English actress, known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on BBC crime drama Silent Witness, having joined the cast in 2004 following the departure of Amanda Burton. She also appears as Morgause in the BBC's Merlin beginning in the programme's second...
), the love of his life. Adam (Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes
Shaun Parkes is an English actor currently appearing in the ITV drama Identity.-Biography:At 16 he enrolled at Seltec College to study drama, two years later he was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.-Career:...
) still hasn't told the rest of the team he's gay. Colin (Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon is an actor who has appeared in various television programmes.Mackinnon was born in Esher, Surrey and was educated at Eton College, before studying drama at The University of Manchester...
) is desperate to have a threesome even though he's just started going out with the lovely Vicky (Billie Piper
Billie Piper
Billie Paul Piper is an English singer and actress.She began her career in the late 1990s as a pop singer and then switched to acting. She started in acting and dancing and was talent spotted at the Sylvia Young stage school by Smash Hits magazine who wanted a "face" for their magazine...
). Dylan (Jimi Mistry
Jimi Mistry
-Early life:Mistry, was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England to an Indian Hindu father and an Irish Roman Catholic mother. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and attended St. James' Catholic High in Cheadle Hulme before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School...
) is in love with the woman his father is about to marry. Billy (Roger Morlidge) is trying to save his marriage. Johnny (Danny Nevill) is not ready to accept the fact that his father, who started the team all those years ago, is dying.
Whilst it is the Sunday football team that keeps this group of friends together, this is not a film about football. We never even see a ball get kicked. This is a film about complex relationships, and how childhood friends have to change as they mature.
Reception
The film premiered at the Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
in 2004, and received largely negative reviews, Channel 4 Film
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
calling it a "charmless film full of gender clichés and lumpen dialogue. Not one to put on your 'things to do' list."