Movie Review: ‘Babygirl’

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Review by James Lindorf

This will be an excellent week for self-proclaimed cinephiles, those seeking an escape from or with their families, or people just looking to be around others during a notoriously difficult time of the year. This week will be dominated not by any of the five major studios but instead by three of the most trusted purveyors of independent films: A24 Films, Focus Features, and Searchlight Pictures. Whether you are into vampires, power play, or iconic musicians, there is something for you opening this week.

First up is A24’s “Babygirl,” a story of self-discovery, control, and sex from writer and director Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies). Nicole Kidman stars as Romy, a high-powered CEO and a loving mother to two daughters she shares with her husband Jacob (Antonio Banderas), with whom she also shares a profoundly unsatisfying sex life. When Samuel (Harris Dickinson), a confident young intern, chooses the CEO to be his mentor, the two begin a torrid affair, jeopardizing her career and family.

Reijin can be applauded for crafting something that tries to go beyond the base titillating thrills generally associated with R-rated sex thrillers like “Basic Instinct” or “Wild Things.” Focusing on her subjects’ mental state, desires, and the subject of consent more than their interest in sexual matters promises depth. Unfortunately, she failed to create anything truly interesting in her search for meaning. “Babygirl” lacks the three C’s: a Compelling plot, Chemistry between the lead characters, and Consequences for their choices. Most of the praise the film is receiving can be summed up by saying, “can you believe Kidman did that on film.”

Kidman and Harris have negative chemistry. The only thing driving their relationship is the script. Samuel is able to teach Romy a truth about herself, but beyond that, there are nothing but questions about what she finds appealing about him. It gives the impression that part of the humiliation that Romy is enjoying comes less from the acts she is tasked with and more that they came from someone below her station. It is insulting to Samuel and makes it hard to feel happy for Romy discovering this side of her personality and the joy she receives from it. Then, when the secrets begin to unravel, the threat isn’t the loss of her career, marriage, or life but giving more women chances in the industry.

“Babygirl” is little more than a well-made, kinkier version of a Lifetime Original movie. Usually, Romy would be single and lonely due to the demands of her role as CEO. She’d meet a man who would turn her world upside down and show her what she was missing, and things would either be romantic or turn dark. In this movie, Romy lives the “dream” of having kids, a loving husband, and a fantastic career. The only thing she is incapable of doing is having a frank conversation with her husband. “Babygirl” scrapes by with a disappointing 1.5 out of 5 as a reward for the fine acting by Kidman, Dickinson, and Banderas.

Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R for Language and Nudity
Director: Halina Reijn
Producer: David Hinojosa, Julia Oh, Halina Reijn
Screenwriter: Halina Reijn
Distributor: A24
Production Co: 2AM, Man Up Film, A24
Release Date (Theaters): December 25th, 2024
Runtime: 1h 48m