The House of Tomorrow is a 2017 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by Peter Livolsi and starring Asa Butterfield and Alex Wolff.[2] The film is based on Peter Bognanni's 2010 novel of the same name.[3] It is Livolsi's directorial debut.[4] Co-stars Ellen Burstyn and Nick Offerman served as executive producers of the film.[5]
| The House of Tomorrow | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Livolsi |
| Screenplay by | Peter Livolsi |
| Based on | The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni |
| Produced by | Tarik Karam Danielle Renfrew Behrens |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Corey Walter |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Rob Simonsen |
Production companies | Superlative Films Water's End Productions |
| Distributed by | Shout! Studios[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 85 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8.6 million |
| Box office | $6.9 million |
Plot
editSebastian Prendergast lives in a dated tourist spot called the House of Tomorrow with his grandmother Josephine. Sebastian longs to leave his isolated existence which quickly changes when he meets Jared Whitcomb, a young up-and-coming punk rocker with a heart condition, and his sister Meredith. Inspired to rebel, Sebastian decides to pick up a guitar and join Jared in becoming a punk rock group.
Cast
edit- Asa Butterfield as Sebastian Prendergast, Josephine's grandson and Jared's friend
- Alex Wolff as Jared Whitcomb, Sebastian's friend, Meredith's brother and Alan's son
- Nick Offerman as Alan Whitcomb, Meredith and Jared's father
- Ellen Burstyn as Josephine Prendergast, Sebastian's grandmother, obsessed by all things Buckminster Fuller, even providing retro-futurist tours of her geodesic home, including authentic video of Buckminster Fuller talking and sailing with Ellen Burstyn, who had actually befriended him in real life.[6]
- Maude Apatow as Meredith Whitcomb, Jared's sister and Alan's daughter
- Michaela Watkins as Mrs. Whitcomb, Meredith and Jared's mother and Alan's ex-wife
- Fred Armisen as Tour Video Narrator (voice)
Production
editThe film was shot in Minnesota.[7][8] According to Maude Apatow, the film was shot in 18 days.[6]
Reception
editThe film has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 35 reviews with an average score of 6.27/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Familiar yet endearing, The House of Tomorrow is a well-told coming-of-age comedy that marks an auspicious if not indispensable debut from writer-director Peter Livolsi."[9] Colin Covert of the Star Tribune awarded the film four stars.[10] Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weekly graded the film a B.[11] Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media gave the film three stars out of five.[12] Both Susan Wloszczyna of RogerEbert.com and Barbara VanDenburgh of The Arizona Republic gave it three stars.[13][14] Wes Greene of Slant Magazine awarded the film two and a half stars out of four.[15] Joe Friar of The Victoria Advocate awarded the film three stars out of four.[16]
Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review, calling it "a confident and perfectly cast debut feature."[2]
Robert Abele of TheWrap also gave the film a positive review and wrote, "what makes the movie organically enjoyable outside of its expected direction is that the manifestation of Sebastian's and Jared's mutually beneficial attachment is, in Livolsi's hands, a delicate simmer instead of a sentimental splash, and tended to with plenty of deadpan wit and honest feeling."[17]
Walter Addiego of the San Francisco Chronicle gave the film a negative review and wrote "Part of what's missing in The House of Tomorrow is the acerbic punk spirit that inspires its two heroes, which could have been remedied by a sharper script."[18]
References
edit- ^ Busch, Anita (13 November 2017). "Shout! Factory Launches Shout! Studios, Acquires Three Films For Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ a b Linden, Sheri (8 April 2017). "'The House of Tomorrow': Film Review; San Francisco 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (26 April 2018). "Review: Punk and Futurism Collide in 'The House of Tomorrow'". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (12 April 2017). "Asa Butterfield and Ellen Burstyn Star In 'The House Of Tomorrow,' A Sweet Retro-Futurist Coming-Of-Age Story — SF Film Festival Review". IndieWire. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (8 April 2017). "Film Review: 'The House of Tomorrow'". Variety. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ a b Mullen, Matt (April 27, 2018). "Maude Apatow knows why we're obsessed with teen culture". Interview. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Mumford, Tracy (27 July 2016). "Nick Offerman, Ellen Burstyn film "The House of Tomorrow" in Minnesota". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ Hewitt, Chris (22 August 2016). "Minnesota-shot, Macalester-rooted movie aims for Sundance". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "The House of Tomorrow". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
- ^ Covert, Colin (24 May 2018). "Minnesota-based 'House of Tomorrow' is a home for introspection today". Star Tribune. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Greenblatt, Leah (27 April 2018). "The House of Tomorrow is a sweet punk-rock coming-of-age story: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Anderson, Jeffrey M. "The House of Tomorrow". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Wloszczyna, Susan (27 April 2018). "The House of Tomorrow". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ VanDenburgh, Barbara (26 April 2018). "'House of Tomorrow' cute, if not punk, teenage tale of friendship". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Greene, Wes (23 April 2018). "The House of Tomorrow". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Friar, Joe (27 April 2018). "Review: 'The House of Tomorrow' is a coming-of-age drama set amidst a punk rock backdrop". The Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Abele, Robert (20 April 2018). "'The House of Tomorrow' Film Review: Wry, Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Indie Mixes Buckminster Fuller and Punk". TheWrap. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ Addiego, Walter (22 May 2018). "'House of Tomorrow' starring Asa Butterfield a predictable tale of teen rebellion". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
