How to Be

Art is a directionless young man stuck in a mild existential rut who decides to hire a visiting Canadian self-help guru as his personal life coach. He persuades the charismatic Dr Levi Ellington to stick around London and take on the project, hoping a mentor can organize his unfocused days and unclear ambitions. The film follows their awkward interactions, the eccentric people they meet, and the small moments that force Art to question what he actually wants. It mixes dry humor with quieter dramatic beats, and keeps surprises to itself rather than delivering big plot twists.

This 2008 British comedy-drama was written and directed by Oliver Irving, and it was produced on a modest independent scale. The cast includes Robert Pattinson as Art, Powell Jones as Dr Levi Ellington, Johnny White as Ronny, Mike Pearce as Nikki, and Jeremy Hardy as Jeremy, reflecting a small ensemble approach.

The movie had a limited theatrical run and didn’t make a major box office splash, playing mostly in select venues and festivals rather than wide commercial release. It wasn’t positioned as a mainstream crowd-pleaser, which kept its reach fairly narrow.

Critical reaction was mixed to negative, with a middling audience score and a vote average of 4.8 out of 10 from 40 votes, reflecting divided opinions on its tone and pacing. Reviewers often pointed to its awkward, understated humor and the lead character’s halting attempts at self-improvement, with some viewers appreciating the subtlety and others finding it thin.

Although it didn’t become a mainstream hit, the film is sometimes mentioned because it features Robert Pattinson in an early, very different role from his later mainstream projects. That association has kept occasional interest alive among fans and indie film watchers who look back at lesser-known entries in the careers of familiar actors.