How To with John Wilson | agoodmovietowatch

Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans

How To with John Wilson 8.5 2023 Show

How To with John Wilson

John Wilson · United States of America · English

An idiosyncratic docu-comedy that finds wisdom and wonder in the strange beauty of everyday existence

HBO Max

Our take by Emil Hofileña

Made up entirely of B-roll and random, unglamorous footage of New York City, as well as the intentionally awkward, stuttering narration of its creator, How To with John Wilson might be the most unlikely series to offer touching, life-affirming insights about human connections and the simple beauty of the world we live in. As Wilson sets off at the start of each episode trying to provide advice on a mundane topic, his curiosity and self-effacing nature land him in increasingly odd places with different strangers around the city. The show may seem like nothing more than a bunch of vignettes loosely strung together at first, but upon closer look there’s truly clever wit and intelligence that goes into every single transition. How To’s power sneaks up on you—quietly teaching us the value of community and how we’re always a part of something much more interesting.

What happens

In a uniquely hilarious odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation, documentary filmmaker and self-described "anxious New Yorker" John Wilson covertly and obsessively films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to give everyday advice on relatable topics. The awkward contradictions of modern life are eased by Wilson’s candid, unpolished commentary. Building upon Wilson’s previously released "how to" short films, each episode takes wildly unexpected turns but is grounded in John's refreshing honesty.

What the critics said

Notable Critics

"The oddball, comic show about New York City is the perfect documentary for our documentary-obsessed culture."

— Alexandra Schwartz

"It's a tightly matched combination of written narration and carefully selected clips, a partnership that dances back and forth between which piece is the setup and which is the punch line."

— Kathryn VanArendonk

Awards

WGA

1 nom

Nominated: Comedy/Variety Sketch Series

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About the author

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.