Birthday Girl

Sometimes we all want to watch a film which isn't too heavy and yet isn't one of those "American Pie"-type time-fillers either. I love to watch films that make you thi... more >

Sometimes we all want to watch a film which isn't too heavy and yet isn't one of those "American Pie"-type time-fillers either. I love to watch films that make you think but I really hate senseless slapstick teen flicks which seem to dominate the cinemas these days. I would highly recommend Birthday Girl for this purpose.

Ben Chaplin is unassuming bank clerk John who lives a rather mundane, loveless life and finally decides to get himself a Russian mail order bride one fine day. The gorgeous Nadia (Nicole Kidman) arrives only for him to discover that she doesn't speak any English. Whilst waiting for the agency to get back to him on the matter, things turn out quite alright as they both struggle to communicate with each other in a clumsily romantic way. Nadia is extremely obedient and docile and we see how hard she tries to make John happy, especially as she indulges him in his sexual fantasies. John is very pleased with her and begins to fall for her quiet charm. Just as the plot looks like it's heading to fairytale proportions, enter Nadia's two friends Yuri and Alexei (played by Mathieu Kassovitz and the omnipresent Vincent Cassell) to unsettle the mood. Something is definitely amiss and we begin to suspect that Nadia is not all as she seems.

Well that's basically the plot without any spoilers. I would describe this neat little film as a romantic thriller with generous touches of wry humour (watch out for the giraffe jokes!) and appropriate imagery. Chaplin is ever convincing as the inhibited John and it's easy to sympathise with his character. Kidman's role is humanised in a realistic way without being overly sentimental. There is a beautifully strange chemistry between them and I should think the audience get coaxed into wanting their relationship to work.

While the story is not entirely unpredictable, it is the charming way by which it's told that makes this a very worthwhile watch. The pace of the film is exactly right and never for one moment does it bore or seem rushed either.
This is a movie which doesn't take itself too seriously, with no real profound messages to impart. The value lies in its fluid, unpretentious story-telling and adorably lazy texture. My chief complaint about this movie would be its slightly overly-sweet closing but I take nothing away from a generally well-made film. Without its star-studded cast, this could've easily been dismissed as a B-grade effort but I would say that this movie could've been a sleeper hit on DVD if only more publicity was given to it.
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DVD Extras

• Enhanced for WideScreen TV
• Bonus footage
• Trailers
• Behind the scenes
• Interviews (Cast and Crew)
• Commentary (Jez Butterworth (director)
• Ben Chaplin)
• Bonus tracks ('Somethin' Stupid' - Nicole Kidman &
• Robbie Williams)
• Bonus footage
• Trailers
• Behind the scenes
• Interviews (Cast and Crew)
• Commentary (Jez Butterworth (Director)
• Ben Chaplin)
• Bonus tracks ('Somethin' Stupid' featuring Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman)

Film Details

Cast

Nicole Kidman, Vincent Cassel, Ben Chaplin

Technical Details