Mr. Birthday
Mr. Birthday
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Mr. Birthday is a very simple, innocent family movie, with a good heart and little to offend. The story centers around Barry (Jason London), who is offered a job to help prevent kids around the world from having miserable birthdays. There is passing mention of the death of a mother and mild verbal and online bullying, as well as scenes of birthday parties where nobody turns up. There is also some toilet humor including a character passing wind loudly and mention of explosive diarrhea. An adult character inhales helium on one occasion to make his voice high-pitched. Mostly, the film shows the importance of kindness toward others, and that hard work and a positive attitude can lead to great achievements.
Community Reviews
Mr Birthday, I don’t feel so good
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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
- Studio: VMI Worldwide
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 8, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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Sugary sweet father-daughter comedy is fine for families.
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Great characters, memorable music, some monsters/scares.
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Sweet, slow-moving father-daughter tale has mild swearing.
For kids who love father-daughter stories
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