Pass through the Lothian Gate with three loathsome couples, a hapless host and his banshee spouse, and you’ve engaged with THE BIRTHDAY TRIP, a trip that precipitates a fall, a fall that causes multiple fractures.
Three perfect princesses, past prefects at their perfectly private school, congregate with their respective blokes for a combined birthday bash in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
Six fatuous souls chew the fatuous fat and shoot the banal breeze (and the odd bovine), in this sprawling cinema verite slice of not much nice.
Writer director James Robert Woods appears to let his actors have their head in semi-improvisational performances, the trio of couples engaging in collective banter around feeding times. Wine, women and song dominate.
In solo duet time, two couples bicker, accusations of flirting and perceived jealousies, the shallowest pair seemingly content to coast along with male superiority and female subservience. Flow charts and blow jobs the order of their order.
Much more interesting is the Acknowledgement of Country motif that runs through the narrative. The exclusive retreat for affluent white fellas has an Indigenous caretaker, Felix, expected to kowtow to their every whim. He and his family live in a less than luxurious abode than the city slicker guests and it’s causing friction with his partner.
To add insult and salt to a colonial wound, a posse of public relations and marketing types from the consortium who own the resort, turn up and propose a ridiculous amendment to the traditional Acknowledgement of Country.
It’s an absurd piece of bullshit that needs bulldozing and literally invites and ignites that response.
Robert Preston impresses as Felix, while Annelise Hall, Nicola Frew and Josephine Starte blaze as the birthday girls.
The beauty of the Southern Highlands around Robertson is also an attraction, location, location, location locking in the visual splendour of the film.
