It was an unforgettable Holiday and while we look forward to welcoming a new year in, we had to send off 2023 properly. This Holiday we got to test drive the 2023 Acura RDX Platinum Elite. The gorgeous SUV retailing at $63,329 CAN is a perfect balance of class, style and purpose. Our vehicle came in a timeless Liquid Carbon Metallic. Time and again, our passengers would come in, plop themselves into the passenger’s seat, making bold statements how the RDX Platinum Elite A-SPEC was well above its actual retail value. My brother, a self-professed Auto Expert, guessed, “This has gotta be worth minimum six figures!”. Let them think what they will!
It was a year of highs and lows and we find ourselves feeling most introspective at this time of year. The RDX Platinum Elite A-SPEC was ready to take on whatever unpredictable conditions the weather was ready to throw its way as we cleared our thoughts reflecting on the happy and the sad. We saw what seemed like endless rain and clouds to snow during our test drive and the SUV was equally adept and unwavering every time no matter what. Acura continues to wow us with their recent generation of offerings and we equally were impressed by this experience.
The RDX Platinum Elite A-SPEC is powered by a 2.0-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, VTEC® turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, running at 272 horsepower. It boasts Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ and bottom line is we never felt short of power, the SUV raring to go quickly after every step of the brakes! Though the Idle Stop feature always has taken a bit of getting used to, more so than before this time it felt seamless.
Right off the bat, we noticed how incredibly fuel-efficient the RDX is. We counted exactly four days of driving to and from the City, plus a trek to Buffalo from Toronto before we had to fuel-up. It runs on a recommendation of Premium fuel. You get lots of value and run for your money.
Your daily drives are enhanced by its ELS Studio® 3D Premium Audio System with AM/FM/MP3/Windows Media® audio playback capability and a whopping 16 speakers! Connecting our phone via Bluetooth was was a breeze, enabling us to stay on-top of incoming texts and calls, while enjoying our custom Holiday playlist. Having SiriusXM always is a blessing and we can’t imagine morning drives without SiriusXM Hits 1! The RDX is stacked with charging options including wireless charging and an abundance of USB ports for you and your passengers, front and back.
Safety matters most to us and the RDX has a way of being tirelessly-focussed on both active and passive safety, without being overbearing about it. We can’t count how many test drives we’ve been on where the car is beeping at us endlessly when all we’re trying to do is reverse out of a parking spot. The RDX does the same without being over-aggressive about it.
In terms of passive safety, you get dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags (SRS); Front knee airbags; Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system; and SmartVent™ front side airbags. We see Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure offered more and more frequently on sister company Honda‘s vehicles and we get it here too. And we always get a rear seat reminder telling us not to forget sweet beanie in her PetSafe Booster Seat (sold independently). Did we mention its Immobilizer theft-deterrent system?
Speaking to active safety, the RDX gives us 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS®); Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD); Forward Collision Warning (FCW) system; Front and rear low-speed Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB); Hill Start Assist; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system; Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) system; Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with location and pressure indicators; Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow; Blind Spot Information (BSI) system with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system; Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS); and Traffic sign recognition even, which we confirmed worked just as well in the U.S. as in Canada.
Above this, parking and reversing are effortless with its multi-angle rear-view camera and surround view camera system. You get Keyless Entry, remote engine start and also the amazing walk-away lock which wastes no time securing your vehicle the moment you step away. Literally, this is the world we live in today where you’d actually need this.
The RDX is elegance and Acura gets all the details right. Interior accent lighting is elegance understated. Everything is at the touch of your fingertip and at the center of it all is its 10.2″ HD colour centre display with True Touchpad Interface. It comes ready with Acura’s Navigation System with Voice Recognition™ and Alexa is built-in already. Driver and passenger (the ones in the back too!) each get to customize their experience with dual-zone automatic climate control with air-filtration system, plus seat warmers and coolers. An SUV for all seasons.
The Driver and front passenger get 16-way power adjustable driver’s and front passenger’s seat, including lumbar support, thigh extension, and side bolster. The equality and love for all who choose Acura, is unparalleled. The RDX Platinum Elite A-SPEC is striking, coming with Ultrasuede™ & Leather-trimmed seating surfaces. Both front seats are programmable by memory system. Other aesthetic enhancements include metal sport pedals and a stunning moonroof.
We’re already thrilled to see what possibly Acura could do to make the 2024 rendition of the RDX even better than it already is!
A journey through our Holidays in the 2023 Acura RDX Platinum Elite A-SPEC!
Every once in a while we get to test drive something so special that it changes the way you see the world. While I often aim for smaller Sedans for my city adventures and ease of parking, the 2024 Acura MDX Type SUltra changed the game for me. In fact, it hands down has shot-up to #1 in my books out of all the Acura family of vehicles. My only regret is that this isn’t one I gave thought to sooner!
I’m usually fine with a low-key Birthday celebration, but this year I threw that out the window and extended festivities to a week-long thing. So fortunate to have had the Acura MDX Type SUltra with me the whole way whether it was running errands or spending time with family and friends. Dare I say that it is that most “Honda-like” Acura I’ve ever test driven ever? It leans on some of the ingenuity of its sister company, while also firmly defiant in its own luxurious identity.
I had the honour of driving this beauty in a Majestic Black Pearl, which was perfect as it really made its gorgeous pink and purple ambient lighting really pop! Acura‘s IconicDrive feature lights-up 25 areas of the SUV, making drives so special for all lucky enough to sit in it. After experiencing this aesthetic, I will hold every other car I drive to this gold standard in terms of ambience.
This midsize luxury SUV is powered by 3.0-litre Direct Injection DOHC turbocharged V6 engine and running at 355 hp @ 5500. We had power to spare and were master of the road, in a way I’ve never quite felt before with any other vehicle ever before. Honest.
Allow us to indulge purely in the Acura MDX Type SUltra‘s attention to the experiential for a moment because all the practical and technical stuff can be spoken to later. More is definitely more here with the potential to seat seven people over three rows. Even with the third row folded down, you still get a spacious cargo of 1107.2/1367.7 L. More than ever before, the Driver gets unparalleled control with a 16-way power adjustable Driver’s Seat. The Front Passenger’s Seat gets 4-way power lumbar support as well. Front row seats are leather-trimmed and quilted. And did we mention that the Driver gets a whopping three seat position memory options? We’ve only seen the standard two elsewhere!
I am still in awe of its Panoramic Moonroof, as were my passengers. It drew “wow!” reactions. We’ve only seen a moonroof this impressive and expansive in a Tesla. Its Audio system is a thing of marvel – an ELS Studio® Signature Edition Audio System with AM/FM/SiriusXM™/Windows Media® audio capability and get this, a mindblowing 25 speakers including subwoofer. This is an Audiophile and Music Lovers’ dream. Streaming was a seamless and easy experience with the MDX Type SUltra being equipped for Wireless Apple CarPlay®/ Android Auto™, Bluetooth® Streaming Audio, in addition to being HD Radio™ ready. All this at your fingertips as you navigate the SUV’s menu with a True Touchpad Interface console and its magical 12.3″ HD colour centre display. We admit that we prefer touchscreen still more than the Touchpad, but we’re getting the hang of it. We’re trying.
Did we mention the abudance of charging options? Each of the SUV’s three rows has ports tucked-in thoughtfully. We normally associate this level of love for the passenger with Honda, but Acura has arrived and we are so impressed.
Fuel Economy is something we are very conscious of. Drive assured knowing the Acura MDX Type SUltra is exceedingly fuel-efficient for a ride of its caliber and power, at 13.8/11.2/12.4 L/100 km (city/highway/combined). Completely floored and pleasantly surprised we accomplished so much value without the signature “ECON” mode that Honda vehicles boast!
The Acura MDX Type S Ultra is sophistication personified with so many intuitive fixings that put it in a class above the rest: Auto-dimming rearview mirror; Digital instrument display; Steering Wheel-mounted controls; Keyless Access System; Walk-Away Door Lock (literally within seconds of us walking off, we appreciated the MDX locking itself); an HD Multi-angle rearview camera (yes, you even get an overhead view with its Surround View!) with guideline in HD; Traffic sign recognition; and Tri-zone front and rear synchronized automatic climate control! The latter is so thoughtful as everyone has different temperature preferences.
Now onto the technical safety pieces as promised. The Acura MDX Type SUltra is packed with a next-level amount of care for its Driver and Passengers whether it be actively or passively: Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist; Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with Pedestrian Detection; Forward Collision Warning system; Lane Departure Warning system with steering wheel haptic feedback; Road Departure Mitigation system; Low-speed braking control Driver’s and passenger’s side knee airbag; Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; Side curtain airbags; Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control; Blind Spot Information system; Lane Keeping Assist System; Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system; and Traffic Jam Assist. We could feel the MDX working always, ensuring we stayed focussed and alert and this is the energy we need.
It was incredibly tough saying goodbye to the MDX at the end of our Test Drive as we felt such a strong connection to it and all the beautiful memories we made. We are longing for our next pairing!
More on the 2024 Acura MDX Type SUltra here. It starts at $88,409 CAN.
Some memories we made with the 2024 Acura MDX Type S Ultra from high-profile tastings to star sightings and friend/family time!
One of the joys of the Film Festival is getting to drive a car from the Acura family. For TIFF ’23, we had the honour of being paired with the gorgeous 2023 Acura TLX TYPE S in a gorgeous Performance Red Pearl. We literally paint the town red! I was floored by its looks right away, with a flashy trunk spoiler and exposed dual-rectangle exhaust finishers. There also is a diamond pentagon grille which makes it stand out.
In what was a more low-key Festival this year with TIFF working around the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. we found we were still working the usual long hours and there was still plenty of talent in and around town to capture. In fact, we were out and about every single day of the Festival, whether it be doing press ahead of the Festival at CP24 or eTalk‘s TIFF Studio, right up to the announcement of the People’s Choice Winner on closing day. Even with limitations, we made the best of it all and couldn’t have done it without the Acura TLX Type S!
Because we had a downtown presence, a sleek, compact ride was necessary – weaving through narrow alleyways and underground parking lots. The 2023 Acura TLX Type S is as much style as it is performance, packed with gorgeous details. It is powered by a 3.0-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, turbocharged V6 engine with 355 horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Its Fuel Economy tallies in at a combined city/highway 11 litres/100 km which actually took us a long way per tank of gas.
The Driver gets a 16-way power adjustable seat and front passenger’s seat include 4-way power lumbar support, seats in Ebony Leather with Ultrasuede. Drives, especially at night were ambient with Acura‘s IconicDrive™ Selectable LED Ambient Lighting allowing you to light-up up to ten different areas. Simply stunning.
Safety is a priority with Acura and this ride contains all the features to protect you including lane assist system, lane departure warning system, plus blind spot and forward collision warning systems as well. You also get ABS Brakes, Stability Control, Front-impact Airbags, Side-impact Airbags, Overheard Airbags, Knee Airbags, Pretensioners and Anti-Whiplash. As car theft is very much at the top of all our minds, the TLX is equipped with a way to anticipate and detecting unwanted vehicle intrusion. It is armed with an ignition disable device that prevents the engine from starting if the correct original key isn’t being used. We love that also within seconds, the car locks on its own after we walk away from it. Above this, it is hyper-sensitive and aware of your surroundings, especially when backing out of a spot – with the help of its rearview camera – giving you very prevalent audio warnings to keep you out of trouble.
While it takes a bit of getting used to in navigating the Acura TLX‘s touchpad which enables you to navigate the car’s setup, including audio entertainment. Bluetooth connectivity is simple to set-up and it is enabled for SiriusXM satellite radio, with a 10.2″ touchscreen display, plus an abundance of USB charging ports and a wireless charger.
The audio system is next-level, coming with an ELS Studio® 3D Premium Audio System, complete with a 17-speaker surround system, including 4 ultra-slim Highline™ overhead speakers. This is an audiophile’s dream.
Take a walk with us down memory lane as we painted the town red with the 2023 Acura TLX Type S.
While we’re completely in support of Actors making their voices heard during this SAG-AFTRA strike, we can’t help but miss feeling some of the anticipation and electricity that we feel normally at this time of year. But does that mean we’re still going all out TIFF ’23? You bet!
The Team – Amanda Gilmore, David Baldwin, George Kozera, Justin Waldman and Nicholas Porteous are all thrilled for the Festival and if anything, the current state of things allow us to have an even deeper relationship with the films at the Festival, with less of the distractions we normally would have – especially in the earlier part of the Festival. Our Team share their Top Five picks at TIFF ’23here with you in case you need ideas what to see.
We are so grateful to share our official partnerships for TIFF ’23:
CP24 – Southwestern Ontario’s choice for the latest breaking news, CP24 proudly boasts a viewrship of 3.7 million per week in the province. This marks my 14th year collaborating with them as a subject matter expert during the Festival. Can’t wait to see you on-air as we discuss what we’re most excited about, sightings and how we will be navigating TIFF ’23.
If you’re looking to catch us, we will be on CP24 in the 12 o’clock hour September 13th and on CP24 Breakfast on September 14th to start!
STARBUCKS CANADA – It’s PSL Season and the iconic autumnal beverage returns! This year saw the launch of two new seasonal beverages – Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte and Iced Apple Crisp Oat Shaken Espresso – plus the return of the fan-favourite Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Apple Crisp Oat Macchiato. The PSL will always be synonymous with cold theatres in the morning, barely staying awake during my screenings and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Also a new Starbucks location has just lauched at King x John, right in time for TIFFmas! Perfect timing.
ACURA CANADA – We are so delighted to be driving the 2023 Acura TLX A SPEC, continuing a longstanding partnership we’ve had with Acura Canada over the years. This luxury Sports Sedan is sleek and geared for performance with a potent 355-HP and 354 lb.-ft of torque 3.0-litre Turbo V6 engine. The car is protected by state of the art AcuraWatch™. We’ll be getting off to screenings and red carpets in this amazing ride!
H&M CANADA – We adore H&M and are thankful for their longtime support. We can’t wait to show-off some amazing Fall/Winter 2023 pieces from their collection in our TV appearances and throughout the Festival.
CABANO’S CHEESEBURGERS – Hands down our favourite spot in the City to get a burger, there are multiple locations around town to cater to you whether Trinity Bellwoods works best or near Yorkville is more your speed. Not only are their Cheeseburgers and Chicken Burgers (all hormone-free) are next-level, wait till you try their wings and incredible array of sauces. They now have Ice Cream too!
ARTERRA WINES – With 140 years of experience as a leading producer and marketer of globally-recognized Canadian and international wines, this is our first year partnering with Arterra Wins and we’re thrilled about it! They distribute so many of our faves including Kim Crawford, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and more!
HAPPY NATURAL PRODUCTS – Sold only at the finest wellness retailers like Well.ca and Whole Foods, we’re thrilled to support our friends once again this year. Whether it be premium facial rollers, gua sha, shower steamers, sanitizer, scalpal massagers and more, Happy Natural Products are re-inventing self-care and wellness with their outstanding products.
Of course we know you’re pumped and we want you to be excited about our biggest supporters too! We’ve put together a TIFF ’23 Survival Pack Giveaway:
-Meal for two at any Cabano’s Cheeseburgers location in Toronto -$25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card (don’t worry there will be many up for grabs during TIFF if you don’t win the Survival Pack!) -Two H&M Canada VIP Cards -An assortment of Happy Natural Products -Two bottles of Kim Crawford wine courtesy of Arterra Wines -One official Mr. Will Wong baseball cap
I will hand-deliver to one lucky winner in the Greater Toronto Area area during TIFF!
To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post on our Threads, Facebookor X account. In the comments, tag a friend! Winner must be from Greater Toronto Area. You must be following!
#TIFF23: Proud to announce our official 2023 Toronto International Film Festival partners!
If you’re around, tune in 12:45 PM ET as I appear on CP24, and also tomorrow 8:45 AM ET again!
One lucky winner in the Toronto area will win an amazing TIFF Survivial Pack!… pic.twitter.com/FatPYYV5wb
How is it already TIFF? This year flew right by and it only seems like yesterday we were dreaming of a full-capacity Festival. Don’t get us wrong, it was nice having a nice, breezy TIFF last year, wrapping early. But we long for those wild days we were completely enthralled in 14-16 hour days at the Festival, crawling into bed in the wee hours of the morning at our Hotel.
Over the years, we’ve gotten a little smarter how we strategize around TIFF and we find our days actually can be productive and shorter in the thick of the Festival and we plan to employ that same plan again this year! Our first-half of the Festival is typically very busy as we balance the hottest Films of the Festival and of course the star-filled Red Carpets and parties around the City.
We couldn’t do any of this without an amazing Team. So overjoyed we are officially accredited once again this year at the Festival. Thank you in advance to Amanda Gilmore, David Baldwin, George Kozera, Justin Waldman and Nicholas Porteous whom leading-up-to and into the Festival offering their invaluable assistance giving us their thoughts on the most buzzy titles to premiere at the Festival this year. Everyone on the Team’s been dealing with their own challenges this past bit so being able to enjoy TIFF the good old-fashioned way again means so much to us. We’ve been at it for 13 years now officiallycovering TIFF in our own unique way, and it never gets old! We live for this.
We couldn’t do it without the support of our new and returning partners whom we’d like to thank individually.
CP24
Look for us once again this year as we join CP24‘s Bakari Savage for live hits and updates about the hottest Films at TIFF ’22, and also where you might spot some of the biggest stars of the Festival. The beauty of CP24 is that even if you miss it, its rotation and website, plus the CP24 GO app allow you to catch it at your convenience.
We will be on CP24 Breakfast this Friday, September 9, 2022 in the 8 o’clock hour! And our photos will be featured throughout the Festival!
ACURA CANADA
We’re delighted that our vehicle of choice for TIFF ’22 is the 2022 Acura RDX. This premium Crossover SUV delivers an exciting driving experience with its 272-hp*VTEC® turbo engine and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™* (SH-AWD®) that takes on corners with confidence and control. Mobilty is super-important to us during the Festival as we’re needed allover town.
STARBUCKS CANADA
It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Season officially! Throughout the Festival we’ll giving away $25 Starbucks Canada Gift Cards which will give you a chance to try some of those comforting Fall Menu items at Starbucks! The Crisp Apple Oat Macchiato is back too and like the PSL you can enjoy it hot or iced! There’s nothing more amazing than sinking into our seat in a dark theatre with a warm PSL in-hand. Starbucks is all about making that drink yours and feel free to customize your beverage and make it all about YOU!
CHATIME CANADA
We’re delighted how mainstream Bubble Tea/Boba has become and Chatime Canada is changing the game with their exquisite flavours and tea of the highest standard. You haven’t lived till you’ve tried their Roasted Milk Tea which is obsession-worthy. Their Menu is highly customizable and my personal favourite though? Right now it’s an Iced Lychee Green Tea, 30% Sweet and Less Ice. And did you know they too have a Pumpkin Spice Milk Tea? It’s absolutely delicious. Sinfully good. What will become your favourite? Don’t forget to try their sweets from Bake Code!
SAMSUNG CANADA
So you’ve got your TIFF planned. But what good is a plan without the perfect smartphone? The Samsung S22 Ultra is our phone of choice at TIFF ’22 this year. We do so much of our Social Media posts live as we experience the magic of TIFF and actually Blog and edit our Reviews from our phone. With a strong battery life of 7h 26 mins and 40MP Selfie Camera/10 MP Periscope/12 MP Ultra Wide Camera/108MP Wide-angle Camera and 10MP Telephoto Camera, we’ve got all the angles covered!
H&M CANADA
Comfort, clean lines and boxy fits and shirt jackets are the thing this Fall and H&M is ahead of the curve on this. We will be sporting H&M throughout the Festival and can’t wait to show you some of our favourite finds from their upcoming Fall and Winter Collection including jackets and coats. We can’t wait to show off our finds!.
LA CREMA
At the end of the night after a long day at TIFF, what better way to unwind than with a glass of wine? Monterey Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Roséare our favourites from this phenomenal winery.
boscia
Blotting Linens in Black Charcoal, Clear Complexion and Green Tea($14). Bring a bag-friendly pack of blotting linens along with you to instantly blot away excess oil and perspiration throughout the day, without disturbing any makeup or skincare. The slim package fits perfectly in your pocket, handbag or desk drawer.
amika
Summer sun = greasy hair. No thanks. Enter the award-winning bestseller, Perk Up Dry Shampoo. Packed with natural rice starch, the dry shampoo absorbs oil, while leaving no white residue.
STOIC BEAUTY
Eos Barrier Repair Morning Mist is perfect for your gym bag or your beach bag, Eos Morning Mist is a gentle all day refresh you and your skin deserve. Featuring Co-Enzyme Q10 for barrier repair and protection of the skin, with tangerine and lavender for uplifting your spirits, this pregnancy safe mist will have you saying “hello sunshine!”. Plus, with gentle AHA/PHAs, your skin gets some light exfoliating prior to your morning moisturizer and SPF.
HAPPY NATURAL PRODUCTS
We’re still very cautiously observing safety protocols and will be at TIFF ’22. This means sanitizing our hands frequently. HAPPY Natural Products which are available at fine retailers like Well.ca, Whole Foods, Healthy Planet, McEwan and more, include Facial Rollers, Gua Sha, Shower Steamers, Sanitizer and Masks. I swear by their 80% Hand Sanitizer which spritzes-on easily without stickiness, and it’s kept me safe and healty throughout this entire Pandemic. They were just seen this past week on Breakfast Television!
Now for the exciting stuff! One lucky winner in the Greater Toronto Area will win our TIFF ’22 Survival Prize Pack packed with items to help you survive this Festival! Prize Pack, valued at $450+ includes:
•Amazon Fire TV Stick (One stop to streaming all your faves like Crave, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV, Netflix and more, a $70 value)
•$25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card
•A Chatime Canada Prize Pack ($100 value) including 1 x Chatime T-shirt, 1 x Stainless Steel Straw and 1 x $50 Chatime Canada Gift Card
•One bottle each of La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Rose ($70 value)
•An H&M Canada VIP Discount Cards that grant you 25% off your purchases up till December 31, 2022
•Happy Natural Products Stainless Steel Gua Sha, 80% Hand Sanitizer and Shower Steamers ($75 value)
•Stoic Beauty Eos Barrier Repair Morning Mist ($30 value)
•amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($34 value)
•boscia Blotting Linens in Black Charcoal, Clear Complexion and Green Tea ($14 value)
You can “like” this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK for a chance to win, or Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet below, or you can just like the IG Post below also and tag a friend in the comments there!
To ring-in #TIFF22, one lucky Reader in the Toronto area will win this amazing TIFF SURVIVIAL PACK with gifts from some of our official TIFF Partners!
We don’t believe we made it through another TIFF! While this year’s Festival certainly was a bit more scaled-back we definitely were not short of things to do, equally putting in long days. So thankful to the Team for contributing their Reviews of the most key titles to surface at TIFF ’21 including Dave Baldwin, Amanda Gilmore and George Kozera. So thankful to be a Torontonian and be gifted every year with this amazing Festival. We’re so appreciative of the considerations for our safety and the fact that we were able to enjoy the Festival both in-person and at-home. We will never take for granted this flexibility.
Once again we must thank some of our official partners in our coverage of the Festival this year! We couldn’t have done it without their generosity and support and we’re always thrilled to get our Readers and Followers excited about their amazing products and services.
•1 $50 Starbucks Canada Gift Card •1 $50 Chatime gift card + 1x T-shirt +1x Tumbler + 1x Stainless Steel Straw set •1 $50 Gift Card at Lone Star Texas Grill •1 $50 Gift Card at Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken •1 Happy Gift Set including 1 Rose Quartz Roller + Gua Sha set, 1 Happy Face Mask, 1 bottle 250ml Happy Sanitizer and a Happy 3-Toothbrush set •1 The Beauty of Eczema’s Bathing Oil and Bath Salts At-Home Spa Set •1 Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Beehive Box •1 boscia Skin Nutrition Body Collection •1 bottle of Nature’s Sunshine new Hair, Skin & Nails capsules and BioGuard Hand and Body Cream •1 H&M Canada VIP Card •1 Official MR. WILL WONG Baseball Cap
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Team Mr. Will also share their favourites of the Festival and also their predictions which Film will win that coveted People’s Choice Award!
Although TIFF had less films in its lineup, there was no shortage of great Films! This list was VERY hard for me to make. NOTE: FLEE would be included but I viewed outside of TIFF!
Belfast Titane The Worst Person in the World
Petite Maman Spencer
Would Also Highly Recommend: The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Power of the Dog, Dune & The Humans
TIFF’21 was a substantial upgrade from TIFF’20. Full Stop. The quality of films was substantially stronger, the in-person and digital offerings were better, and the all-around experience was so much closer to the TIFF we all know and love from those simpler, pre-pandemic times. There are some learnings the programming team will need to reflect on for next year’s festival, but I sincerely hope they continue with the hybrid experience despite some of the hiccups they encountered this year. It allows for an easier and more efficient means of discovery for everyone, and lets audiences still feel like they are part of the action even if they are watching from home. I had a blast watching so many movies this year, and am already looking forward to endlessly re-watching many of them. Yet I know in my bones that I would not have been able to see nearly as many had it only been an in-person festival. And while I am bummed to have missed out on Last Night in Soho and Spencer, I am overjoyed at everything I did get to see — including some of the more forgettable titles. Next year will no doubt look different again, but here’s hoping it will still feel like TIFF because where else can you go from watching a hit Broadway musical adaptation like Dear Evan Hansen to an Oscar-prestige play like The Power of the Dog to the absolute madness of the Palme d’Or winning Titane?
Spencer
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Last Night in Soho
Belfast
Dear Evan Hansen
People’s Choice Award Prediction: Spencer
We’re still mesmerized by Kristen Stewart’s work in Spencer, which almost is side-by-side as our favourite with Jessica Chastain‘s mind-blowing portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye! We still are obsessed with Last Night in Soho and can’t wait to see it again in October! We missed The Power of the Dog but are thankful it will be available soon on Netflix! So excited to see some of these titles propel into Awards Season success.
We are thrilled to announce our brand partners for the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival! With TIFF ’21 returning a bit more to a semblance of what we remember this year, we are excited to deliver you some amazing content! Whether it be snaps of and with the stars, bringing you the buzz on the who’s in town, our Reviews and also what Films are getting that Awards Season word of mouth, MRWILLWONG.COM and its Social Media channels are your go-to this TIFF!
We couldn’t do it without the support of our Brand Partners, returning and new!
Mobility during the Film Festival is super-important and we’re thrilled our ride of choice for TIFF ’21 is the 2021 Acura TLX. Crafted for performance, we’ll let its sleek style and action speak for itself. One of the world’s best sport cars has an incredible legacy of over 30+ years!
It’s PSL Season once again and for us TIFF has always been synonymous with a warm Pumpkin Spice Latte, while watching a movie during the Festival early in the morning! You cannot miss out on their Fall menu options including the Pumpkin Scone, Pumpkin & Cream Cheese Muffin, and the phenomenal Apple Crumble Macchiato.
H&M’s Fall 2021 Collection is all about comfort and style, with several officially licensed throwbacks. We’re thrilled to be wearing a few pieces from their Collection for the Festival again this year!
Nobody does tea like Chatime Canada and that’s the truth. So thrilled to see their brand flourish across Canada and we have been hooked for many years! You absolutely must try some of their seasonal beverages like Mango Tango, Guava Lava, Grape Escape and their brand new Golden Aged Milk Tea, rich and complex! It’s Midautumn Festival soon and select locations are carrying Bake Code’s amazing and decadent Moon Cakes.
Be following us on all our Social Media channels. We’ve got plenty of Drink Vouchers to give away throughout the Festival!
We love our Tex-Mex and Lone Star Texas Grill and Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken are the gold standard! With locations around the GTA are the perfect way to fire-up your Festival!
Keep your hair, skin and nails beautiful like the stars with Nature’s Sunshinenew Hair, Skin & Nailscapsules! And don’t forget to apply the ultimate protection and restoring benefits to your skin with their BioGuard Hand and Body Cream.
The secret’s out! It’s no coincidence the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox Arquette keep their faces looking fresh and we’re thrilled to partner with JetPeel Canada to keep our glow nice and bright for TIFF ’21!
We’re thrilled for an 11th year to be featured as a guest on CP24 during TIFF. Be sure to tune-in throughout the Festival. You never know when we’ll surface!
We swear by HappyNatural Products‘ 80% Alcohol Sanitizer. It’s our favourite and we foresee we’ll be using it forever, even after we make it through the Pandemic! In addition to this, they make fantastic face masks of the highest grade and also Gua Sha, Facial Rollers, Toothbrushes and more. Their products can be found at the likes of Whole Foods, Well.ca and more.
We know you’ve been waiting for it. We’re thrilled to give one Reader in the Greater Toronto Area a chance to win our TIFF ’21 Survival Prize Pack, loaded with products we know you can’t do without this Festival!
Our Prize Pack, a value of over $600 CAN, includes:
1 $50 Starbucks Canada Gift Card
1 $50 Chatime gift card + 1x T-shirt +1x Tumbler + 1x Stainless Steel Straw set
1 $50 Gift Card at Lone Star Texas Grill
1 $50 Gift Card at Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken
1 Happy Gift Set including 1 Rose Quartz Roller + Gua Sha set, 1 Happy Face Mask, 1 bottle 250ml Happy Sanitizer and a Happy 3-Toothbrush set
1 The Beauty of Eczema’s Bathing Oil and Bath Salts At-Home Spa Set
1 Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Beehive Box
1 boscia Skin Nutrition Body Collection
1 bottle of Nature’s Sunshine new Hair, Skin & Nails capsules and BioGuard Hand and Body Cream
1 H&M Canada VIP Card
1 Official MR. WILL WONG Baseball Cap
To enter for a chance to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK, tag a friend, and tell us in the comments there, which Film you’re most excited about at TIFF ’21. Note: entrants should be from the Greater Toronto Area. We will deliver you the prize in-person. *hint:here’s some of our #TIFF21 coverage so far*.
You must be following.
You might want to bookmark this link as it will be updated often during the Festival!
Not on Facebook? All good, you can enter to win also on Instagram. Details below.
In addition to this, the ILX Tech A-Spec got us to our interviews safe and efficient, which we appreciate more than ever especially during a Pandemic when we worry about the safety other means of transportation.
And did we mention we’re a Dad again? Our beanie was born during TIFF ’20 (how fitting!) and we had to rush to be by her side to welcome her into this world. We will be bringing her home end of October. So stoked!
As always, everything happens at once in our world, and we were thrilled to be only one of a few outlets granted access to North America’s most historic horse race, the Queen’s Plate – now in its 161st edition at Woodbine Racetrack.
As you know, we’ve been attending TIFF for several years now and we in all honesty were kinda excited for the first time to experience it in Drive-In format. This screening option is reserved more for the higher-profile titles at the Festival, with films divided between RBC Lakeside Drive-In and OLG Play Stage (Ontario Place Boulevard x Remembrance Drive) , plus VISA Skyline Drive-In (20 Polson Street).
We had the joy of seeing a Film at RBC Lakeside Drive-In and it was a pleasurable, well-executed experience which we can see being used again in future editions of the Festival. We loved the private experience of seeing a Movie with plenty of personal space from others. We could even make comments and not worry about distracting others. And the acoustics were perfect. Above this, we loved the retro charm of all this.
A few key things on the experience to guide you through it if you plan to see your films this way at TIFF ’20:
1. Doors open two hours before your Movie starts, but we arrived an hour early and had plenty of time to settle-in comfortably without having to queue to get in.
2. Upon arriving at the gate of the venue, you should have your digital tickets ready for scanning on your phone and you will be guided along by volunteers on a path to the theatre.
3. On your ticket, you are provided a reserved parking spot (sorted by colour coding) for your car and volunteers will guide you to that spot. Ensure you turn your headlights off. This is a courtesy to others.
4. A volunteer will brief you on the experience, including where washrooms are and what station to tune-into on your car radio to enjoy the Movie.
5. Concessions are available at the venues. You will be provided instructions or a link how to order on your phone and they will be brought to you, usually in a contactless manner. It also is totally fine to bring your own food. We did!
6. RBC Lakeside Drive-In has a stage with a live musical guest during the pre-show. It is good etiquette to honk your car to show appreciation for the performance.
7. With your car being on Accessory mode to keep your radio on to watch the Movie, it will turn off on its own at some point. If that happens just turn your car back on, carefully keep your headlights off so not to distract others.
8. There are Mazda Guest Automative Services available in case your car battery dies.
9. If you must leave your car during the Movie, ensure you keep at least 6 ft away from others and ensure you have a face covering on.
10. Do your research and check the length of your Film. It is a good idea to get a head start on the exit rush of cars out the venue once the Film ends, unless you do enjoy sitting through the credits. Which is totally fine too, but be prepared to wait!
Some snaps of our experience, which we were able to enjoy at TIFF ’20 courtesy of the 2020 Acura ILX!
A special thanks to H&M Canada for the fashion as well! Many of you are asking about the face covering and this is an official TIFF ’20 mask available only at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Gift Shop!
It’s that time of the year again! We admit TIFF ’20 couldn’t gave come any sooner as it is the highlight of our year every year. While our expectations have been managed of a reduced Festival in light of our current climate, we still plan to celebrate the best Film Festival in the world however we can. We understand the star power won’t be here in the City like previous years, but we are still excited to deliver you content just as you were there with us at the Festival! We’ve got our Films picked-out and look forward to bringing you highlights from some star-studded In-Conversations with the likes of Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Saoirse Ronan and more, plus daily reviews of the Festival’s most-buzzed titles! Team Mr. Will are thrilled to deliver you our best coverage just like we do every year, even if on a different scale!
We spoke to The Toronto Sun‘s Jane Stevenson about how this year’s set-up impacts our plans here.
First are foremost we’d like to thank our partners, returning and new this year.
H&M CANADA – H&M still remains our favourite fashion go-to year after year and while there are a limited number of physical events to attend this year, we’re still honoured to showcase pieces from their Fall/Winter 2020 Collection! With the seasons changing, H&M wants to help you build your best and coziest Fall wardrobe. With all H&M stores officially reopened across Canada, they have great, fashionable Fall items and amazing deals happening both online and in store. We’re thrilled to rock a couple new pieces from their Fall/Winter 2020 Collection at some TIFF ’20 in-person events.
CHATIME CANADA – We are obsessed with Chatime and are delighted again this year to give our Readers and Followers a chance to win some gift vouchers. Others try, but Chatime has proven time and again to be the best Bubble Tea available and we’re thrilled they’re branching-out to several new areas for you to see what the crazy is all about! We live a walk away from a location but often just Uber Eats it in as nothing’s better than bypassing the wait! My recommendations are their Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea, Wintermelon Iced Tea or Iced Grapefruit Black Tea! Be sure to try their brand-new Tea of the Month, the Brown Rice Green Tea with Fresh Milk and also their 1 litre Super Cups Also right in-time for Mid-Autumn Festival, you also can find limited edition Mooncakes in select stores by Bake Code!
NTD APPAREL INC. – We understand safety should always come at the expense of fun and style. NTD Apparel Inc.’s official licensed merchandise are available at several retailers like Winners, Walmart, Canadian Tire and more! We offered you a chance to win some JAWS and BACK TO THE FUTURE face coverings in July and those were a huge hit!
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT – One of our favourite purveyor of cinematic hits has in recent months brought us our favourites on Home Entertainment including Bad Boys For Life, Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, Bloodshot and more!
ACURA CANADA – As TIFF this year while largely is digital, it will include a Drive-In component, more than ever do we need an amazing ride for the task. We’ll be arriving in style TIFF ’20 in the 2020 ACURA ILX TECH A-SPEC!
We’ve already got a few Premieres on our schedule that we’ll enjoy in the ILX and we can’t wait to take you along with us for the ride!
NINJA KITCHEN CANADA – One of the joys of our pandemic has been sharpening our culinary skills and we were excited to launch a Cooking section on our website and the feedback has been amazing! Never did we realize before how much the Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer would elevate and simplify our cooking experience. We’ve made everything from Roast Chicken to Doughnuts to Steak and it is a joy to know we can have our favourite Sweet Potato Fries whenever we want now! Being home at TIFF this year more than ever for screenings, we appreciate the value of good food at home while we’re screening the Festival’s hottest titles.
STARBUCKS CANADA – Starbucks was a part of my daily life before the pandemic and it broke my heart that being home meant I couldn’t have my Starbucks every day. We’re so happy their stores are open again full-service and right in time for Pumpkin Spice Latte season – our favourite thing to have every TIFF, iced or hot! And don’t forget to try their brand-new Apple Oat Flat White. The ever-popular Oat Beverage is now available as a dairy alternative!
HAPPY HAND SANITIZER – More than ever before do we depend on staying safe with some sanitizer. Available at retailers like Well.ca and Whole Foods, Happy Hand Sanitizer sprays on easy, moisturizes, dries quick and is unscented. Best of all, it isn’t goopy like many others on the market. It also is safe for continued daily use at 80% alcohol and available in 2 and 8 oz. bottles. We don’t go anywhere without it! And best of all, it’s Canadian-made!
More excitingly, we’re thrilled to give our lucky Readers a chance to enjoy some of the products our partners offer! One lucky Readers will win our MR. WILL’S TIFF SURVIVAL PRIZE PACK which is an annual highlight. This year, the prize is more thrilling than ever!
The Prize Pack includes:
1 Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer, 3.8L (value $189 CAN) 4 Chatime Canada Gift Drink Vouchers with official Chatime Reusable Straws (value $60 CAN) $25 Starbucks Canada Gift Card (value $25 CAN) 1 H&M Canada VIP Discount Card, good for 25% off 1 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment CanadaBlu-ray™ Set including: Bad Boys For Life, Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Bloodshot! (value $125) NTD Apparel Inc. official licensed BACK TO THE FUTURE and JAWS Face Coverings (value $25) 2 2 oz. bottles of HAPPY Hand Sanitizer (value $15)
A total value of at least $500 CAN! If the drawn winner is from the Great Toronto Area, I will hand-deliver the package to you during TIFF ’20.
To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. You can Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw or tag two friends on this Post on our Instagram for an extra chance! You must be following and we will be verifying!
Even if you don’t win the Prize Pack, we’ve got some goodies to give away on our Social Media throughout the Fest!
