With mixed Letterboxd reviews, averaging at just 3.2 stars for A24’s new release of ‘Babygirl’, starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson, it has been argued that the production company behind ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’, ‘Midsommar’ and HBO’s ‘Euphoria’, all three of which remain well-loved among their reflective audiences, is starting to fall behind.
The story of ‘Babygirl’ pictures an older female CEO (played by Nicole Kidman) who, dissatisfied with her and her husband’s (Antonio Banderas) sex life, begins an affair with her much younger intern (played by Harris Dickinson).
The general themes of the movie discuss female pleasure along with showcasing a woman in a higher-up executive position – which many critics have praised since the movie’s release into cinemas. Further themes within the “erotic thriller” include power plays of numerous contexts, age gap relationships, and the troubling nature of family dynamics.
Despite being actively acknowledged within the movie’s plotline, the underlying problems of power play in the workplace and the potential exploitation that could arise from it, have been thoroughly criticised.
On the other hand, however, clips from the rather courageous (and admittedly more sexual) scenes from the movie have rapidly started circulating on the social media platform TikTok, with many viewers left shocked by a scene involving – literal – milk drinking.
Even more so, the problematic nearly 30-year age gap between the two main characters in the movie did not go unnoticed by movie critics. Despite being actively acknowledged within the movie’s plotline, the underlying problems of power play in the workplace and the potential exploitation that could arise from it, have been thoroughly criticised.
Nicole Kidman herself, at a press conference for the movie, said she had decided to take up the role immediately after hearing the title of the film – stating she wanted to be the “Babygirl” herself, later raising a glass of milk (in reference to the scene in the movie), as a toast to the movie’s box office success.
Despite the mixed reviews and some of the potential problematic notions that critics have pointed to, I personally found ‘Babygirl’ okay and have rated it 3.5 stars. Although not a brand-new plotline, it has already been seen on the big screen before, it was a fun watch regardless – the scene of Harris Dickinson dancing to ‘Father Figure’ by George Michael was the most memorable scene for me without a doubt!
