Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family comedy has positive messages, scenes of bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Mr. Birthday
What's the Story?
In MR. BIRTHDAY, Barry (Jason London) moves to a new area with his daughter Emily (Charlotte Ciano), where he works a maintenance job at a fancy building under the watchful eye of an overbearing boss. The rest of his time he spends trying to make his daughter and others happy, which catches the attention of mysterious building resident Mr. Jay (Fred Sullivan). He introduces Barry to the International Birthday Network, which saves children around the world from suffering miserable birthdays. It seems like the role of a lifetime for Barry, but is there more to Mr. Jay than meets the eye?
Is It Any Good?
This low-budget family comedy is not the most sophisticated film to hit screens, and the production values may feel a little low-rent to kids that have grown up on high-def and special effects. But, like Mr. Birthday's lead character, it is sweet and innocent and it's heart is in the right place. The birthday party scenes are imaginative and colorful, and will likely appeal to younger kids, with themes ranging from dinosaurs and basketball to pizza and aliens.
The main characters are strong role models, with both Barry and daughter Emily displaying a lot of positive qualities that children can look up to. There are messages about kindness, hard work, and not rising to bullies, which are great themes to introduce and discuss as a family. The acting isn't always wholly convincing and dialogue can feel a little clunky at times, but the sweet nature of the film and the positive energy it generates just about manage to keep it on track.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the bond between father and daughter is portrayed in Mr. Birthday. What qualities did Barry seem to have passed on to Emily and when did these show up in the story?
Some characters in the film display bullying behavior. What message does the film teach about this?
Talk about the movie's positive messages. How did the International Birthday Network help others and spread happiness? Can you think of any other things that do this -- either fictional or in real life?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 17, 2021
- Cast : Jason London , Fred Sullivan , Charlotte Ciano
- Director : Dan Hunter
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : VMI Worldwide
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate