Even Nicole Kidman’s daring performance can’t make Babygirl leave a lasting impression. The movie, helmed by Halina Reijn, promises more profound explorations of power and lust but ends up delivering shallow eroticism instead of a deeper dive into its heroine’s inner turmoil.
A Daring Performance in a Movie That Disappoints
Nicole Kidman plays a bold role as Romy Mathis, an accomplished CEO struggling with a complicated personal life. Yet, while the movie was promoted as an intense examination of passion and power struggles, it does not produce a strong story. Rather, Babygirl sacrifices emotional resonance for provocative scenes and misses the chance to explore the intricacies of corporate structures and personal dilemmas.
A Controlled Life Disrupted by Desire
The film traces the life of Romy, the CEO of a robotics firm that deals with logistics. She seems to have her life perfectly organized—harmonizing work, family, and personal obligations with utmost finesse. But a chance encounter with a charming young man named Samuel (Harris Dickinson) upsets her seemingly perfect routine.
Their affair begins with subtle flirting and eventually turns into an affair that crosses professional lines. Although Romy is accustomed to being in control, Samuel turns the tables on her in ways she does not expect, reversing the classic power structure.
A Questionable Power Shift
What starts as an interesting dynamic between Samuel and Romy soon becomes a problematic portrayal of control. The intern’s increasing control over Romy, such as a moment where he exercises his dominance, is missing the nuance required to make it seem real. Rather than a nuanced psychological struggle, the film relies on over-the-top situations that don’t feel grounded in reality.
Antonio Banderas appears as Romy’s loving but emotionally remote husband, Jacob. But his character is still underdeveloped, and their marital problems cannot be clearly understood. Romy’s role as a mother is also briefly hinted at but never seriously pursued.
A Shallow Take on Gender and Power
The movie teases significant themes of women’s passions, the constraints of achievement, and gender inequality in business arenas but does not pursue them constructively. Romy’s conflicts might have been developed with greater depth, but Babygirl settles for salaciousness instead, simplifying its heroine’s experiences into a string of explicit interactions.
The difficulties in keeping an affair while running a high-profile corporation are glossed over, causing the plot to seem unrealistic. Sometimes the erotica is forced and jumps between wild and inadvertently comic.
Verdict
Though Babygirl was named Time’s Movie of the Year, its potential is not met. The climax of the film shows a moment of real vulnerability, but it is lost in favor of too much focus on physical lust over emotional depth.
Kidman gives a capable performance, bringing to mind Eyes Wide Shut, but the film itself lacks in depth necessary to make the impact. Overall, Babygirl is a more missed opportunity than a brave cinematic statement.
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Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Antonio Banderas
Director: Halina Reijn
Rating: ⭐⭐½ (2.5/5)
Playing now at theatres. more read
