Birthday Girl

Roughly one part crime drama to two parts offbeat love story, `Birthday Girl' is a nifty little British film that gives Nicole Kidman a chance to strut her stuff as an actress. Here she gets to play a Russian `mail order bride' (though, of course, in the modern world she is actually ordered off the internet) who's come to England to start a new life with John, a mild-mannered banker unsuccessful in the ways of love. John is one of those bland, utterly undistinguished `good guys' who everyone seems to like but no one seems to notice. Even his boss at the bank gives him one of those noncommittal job evaluations (saying what a swell guy he is and what a great way he has with people) used to fob people off when they are not good enough to merit a raise or a more prestigious position in the corporation. Forced to go the unconventional route in finding himself a wife, John hooks up with the lovely but inscrutable Nadia, a Russian woman who, John is appalled to learn, does not understand a word of English. Then just as John and Nadia seem to be forming a close relationship (literally bonding over bondage), complications arise when two of Nadia's bizarre `friends' from Russia suddenly arrive on the scene. To reveal more of the plot would be unfair to both the viewer and the makers of this film, since much of the movie's intrigue arises from the frequent turnabouts in the plot itself. Although there is always the threat of violence hammering at the film's edges, writers Tom and Jez Butterworth (the latter serving as the film's director as well), manage to keep the film fairly havoc free while they focus on the developing relationship between the two main characters. Kidman, who speaks nary a word of English in the first half of the film (and only with a heavy accent thereafter), does a beautiful job conveying both the toughness and the vulnerability inherent in this woman. Though innately compassionate, Nadia has had to learn how to survive in a brutal world - even if that means having to exploit naïve, good-natured shmucks like John. As John, Ben Chaplin conveys just the right mixture of shyness, befuddlement and ultimate self-assuredness to make us root for the character. Because of his Everyman characteristics, we want to see John triumph in the end. `Birthday Girl' doesn't try to push the envelope by indulging in elaborate action scenes or patently theatrical heroics. Its events seem to unravel in a spontaneous, naturalistic manner, which helps the film to remain relatively true to life most of the time. It tells an unusual story, one filled with wry humor, understated suspense and a compassionate recognition of human frailty. Well written and well acted, `Birthday Girl' is an unheralded film that deserves to be seen.

Call it false advertisement. I mean I was thinking a crime/suspense/thriller type of movie. I was taking Russian language at the time this movie was released and was excited. Unfortunately I never got around to see it. Then couldn't wait to see it on video. It just wasn't at all what I expected. You know its that type of movie because Kidman's name is on it, I wanted to see it. It looked dark enough. The makeup sure was around her eyes. Don't do that again Kidman. And don't laugh but I had initially heard it was about Kidman's character from Russia who reunites with her daughter she gave up for adoption. I never saw the previews. My bad. That was a long shot from what the movie really was about. Other reviewers can tell you what its about. Tells you how false advertisement can be though. Overall okay but easily forgettable.

I hadn't seen Ben Chaplin in a movie since "The Truth About Cats & Dogs" so I was really happy that they finally decided to release this movie especially since it was made 3 years ago!! Also I wanted to see Nicole Kidman again, I think she's a great actress and finally has the credit she deserves. Ben plays a plain banker who decides to order a Russian mail bride via the net, who he get's is Nadia (Nicole Kidman) and more than he bargains for. Nicole is convincing as a Russian, I guess Aussies such as myself can pick up on the Australian twang. However she did a great job as the wild girl who really has a soft heart, Ben is terrific in this character displaying two totally different elements to the personality of John. I thought they could have emphasised the more romantic elements of the movie but overall it's a good watch

So if I order a Russian mail order bride, I'll get to have kinky sex with a Slavic Nicole Kidman and I get to quit my boring job, be a hero, and make off with a million bucks? Sounds like a good deal. If you can disregard the blatant wish-fulfillment fantasy aspect and consequent predictability of the whole thing, this is a pretty good romantic drama comedy thriller, I guess. Kidman is easy on the eyes, and although Ben Chaplin is no Chaplin, he's entirely believable as the naive, romantic sadomachosist- next-door type person that he portrays. The Russian bad guys come across more as bohemians than bandits, though. (For a better comedic take on the whole mail-order-bride biz, see the Swedish mockumentary "Screwed in Tallinn")

This is a strange one. Ben Chaplin (no relation to the legendary comedian) is a shy Englishman who hooks up with a Russian mail order bride (Nicole Kidman). The movie seems to be a quirky romantic comedy until it suddenly morphs into a crime drama, a chase movie and extremely dark farce. It's a bit of a mess, but is saved by Chaplin's sad sack portrayal of the love sick John, and French actors Vincent Cassel and Mathieu Kassovitz as the Russian bad guys. Nicole Kidman continues to impress, and even though she doesn't speak a word of English for the first hour of Birthday Girl her expressive face says it all.