Babygirl * * ½

True irony, when the existence of a film is ruder than its content.

There are few things more irritating in cinema than someone trying to shock, amaze or educate you with their perceived idea of adventurous sexuality.

Though there is always a market for it I suppose.  I mean, look at the Fifty Shades phenomena from ten years ago. Absolutely daft!

Well here we go again with an insolent young intern at a successful company and the CEO who gets obsessed with him.  I suppose the switcheroo makes all the difference: The intern is a young man and the CEO a mature woman. Well, mature in years anyway.  I'm not so sure about her brain. Though by the end of the film she does wake up to herself,  I'll give it that, even if she remains as equally unaware by excusing he own behaviour with the lazy "all men are bastards" excuse.

To be honest its a bit of a bore as we watch them go through the predictable sex and power game routines:"Get on your knees for me", "Drink your milk like a pussycat", "You will do what ever I tell you to do, now say it back to me"... blah blah blah.  Not even remotely erotic.  Just sad.

Also beyond the sexual power games the stakes are low. If he was trying to rip her off, or rapidly climb up the corporate ladder, it might have made more sense, but he just likes playing his silly sex games. At least he has the excuse of being immature.

With a stupid idea and a dated, wearisome script that looks like it's indebted to 9½ Weeks from forty years ago, the actors all do very well and put in some real effort, though it's a mystery to me as to why they ever signed up for it.  Especially our Nicol, (Ms. Kidman really! You should know better!)

It's directed by Halina Rejin. She also gave us  Bodies Bodies Bodies a couple of years ago which at least had a mitigating self-mocking tone - something that Babygirl regretably lacks.