- Starring
- Kristine Kujath Thorp, Arthur Berning, Nader Khademi
- Writers
- Johan Fasting, Yngvild Sve Flikke, Inga Sætre
- Director
- Yngvild Sve Flikke
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 103 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of many reviews during this year’s SXSW Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.
Every once in a while comes a film with a silly title that may or may not imply a silly film. In the case of Ninjababy, that is more or less the case but that being said, the film is much more than that. This Norwegian dramedy puts a fun spin on the unwanted pregnancy tale by modernizing it with a strong script with plenty of heart and some creative illustrations. However, its sense of humor will surely not be for everyone. In the end, what better than a baby to put a wrench in one’s life, That was the case for Rakel (Thorp), an ambitious young woman with her entire life ahead of her. Often partying, getting drunk, and/or getting stoned, suffice it to say that she wasn’t ready to be a mother but like it or not, she was pregnant. More so than she first realized. From there, the film saw her faced with a dilemma, first trying to figure out who the father was and next, figuring what to do with the baby, one that came out of nowhere like a ninja (hence the title).
Just like real life, Ninjababy was a comedy of errors but it did have its fair share of lighter and deeper moments of reflection. This gave Rakel the chance to take a real look into her life and the circumstances that led her to that point and what she needed to do moving forward. Acting as a sidekick and sounding board was the ninjababy itself (Herman Tømmeraas) for whom she had hilarious and compelling conversations with. However, that individual journey of self-discovery at the center of the story was just as strong as she essentially had to choose between the life she should have and the life she wanted to have. While Thorp was sensational as the naive and overwhelmed Rakel, Berning as Rakel’s awkward boyfriend Mos was also a standout with their great chemistry making them a blast to watch together.
At the end of the day, Ninjababy is an oddball delight that is just silly enough to work.
still courtesy of SXSW
If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.
The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.
