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Happy Birthday
- Director: Yen Tan
- Writer: Yen Tan
- Producer: Mark Buchanan
CGiii Comment
Tan's 1st feature - and what a mess it is.
He tries too hard, too many subjects: self-esteem, self-hatred, cultural clashes with religious or ethnic identities, body image and, gay refugees...ad nauseam.
It really is exhausting trying to keep up with him - don't even try because it is impossible and worthless.
This humourless assault is further exasperated by a director who has neither the skill nor the talent to make such an ambitious film.
A plodding nightmare.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
As a common birthday approaches, five very different people are faced with very similar problems. Jim, a gay, overweight telemarketer (for a weight loss program) faces his self esteem issues. Ron, is a minister who preaches about conversion but practices watching gay porn whenever he can. Javed living in the US with a gay porn actor faces deportation as a Pakistani and condemnation from his Islamic family. Javed living in the US with a gay porn actor faces deportation as a Pakistani and damnation from his Islamic family. Kelly, a young lesbian weathers a breakup with her lover and considers an earlier unrequited love. Tracy, an asian lesbian, goes back in the closet when her mother visits.
Cast & Characters
Benjamin Patrick as Jim;
Michelle E. Michael as Kelly;
John Frazier as Ron;
Devashish Saxena as Javed;
Ethel Lung as Tracy;
Denton Blane Everett as Greg;
Xiao Fei Zhao as Mom;
Lynn Chambers as Julie;
Derik Webb as Troy;
Chip Gilliam as Brian;
Natalie Thrash as Tricia;
Debbie Rey as Sophia;
Kandie Delley as Voice of Infomercial Spokesperson;
Truett Griffin as OA Attendee #2;
Ryan Harper as Ricky