Happy Birthday (VI) (2016) User Reviews

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Hooker from Mexico!

[cjs6547 · 6/10 · 12 December 2016]

I rather enjoyed this movie contrary to expectations, because I don't really "enjoy" movies where holidays go wrong and human trafficking is involved. However, I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't predicted the first twist right as it happens, and the second twist at the same time.

The fatal flaw in delivering the second twist is the line, "it wasn't supposed to be loaded". And to be fair their shenanigans at the border aren't too convincing either.

But apart from that I have to say kudos to the movie for poking fun at American paranoia about travelling abroad. The ending is kind of sweet, now that the 'actors' aren't playing their 'roles', they seem pretty normal, likable people and you don't feel cheated out of cheap death scenes.

Genre Bending But Interestingly Meh!

[organicsocial · 6/10 · 14 September 2016]

Who haven't watched Hangover? You have been living under a rock if you haven't seen the movie about a bunch of partying dudes tripping and puking in the middle of a desert. One of them is lost and the rest try to get him back. Then there's less popular Due Date with the same bearded guy from Hangover, tormenting Robert Downey Jr. They end up in Mexico remember? Then there is even lesser known Search Party with Thomas Middleditch and TJ Miller. It's about rescuing a friend lost in Mexico. This theme is getting tiresome now. To add another film to the list is a bit of a risk. Happy Birthday tries it and survives the sandstorm.

The movie is a bit too thin on the plot, as in, I could jeopardize the entire story by simply mentioning one little detail or by referring to a certain Michael Douglas movie. It's so easy to spoil. Doing that won't be fair to the makers of this film because they obviously tried their best. Yet, I should say it's easy to predict the ending once you are half way through. It's hard to shock the audience these days.

The bit about genre bending is true though. What begins as a stoner comedy takes a turn towards horror and crime thriller. This itself is a fine achievement on the part of the writers. The movie even features a bizarre guest appearance from Steven Tylor of Aerosmith. He's quite good in his character as well. It's a good indie flick with enough scares. However, we are not left with the intended effect at the end. Like the hero of the story, we too want to find a way to get even.

Prisoner

[kosmasp · 4/10 · 12 May 2017]

Sometimes you can be a prisoner. Even as a filmmaker you can be one. You set up something and you set it up too tight. The walls close around you and there is no where else to go. The characters in this know what I'm talking about and once you've watched it (or very likely while you watch it) you will too.

The thing is, if you do a movie that is carried by this one "special" ingredient, it may very well fall short. But of course as with other movies (one comes to mind from the 90s, which had way better production values and way better actors in it) this can work for some. Those will just be entertained with what is being delivered to them. And if you can do that, without seeing the many flaws, that is good for you. Doesn't make the movie special though

one good twist and one bad twist

[SnoopyStyle · 3/10 · 16 October 2017]

It's Brady Baxter's birthday and he finds his girlfriend had cheated on him. His crass friend Tommy Quinn takes him to Mexicali to party. They meet Katie and Lucia who warn them about the Mexican kidnapping cartel. They are guided by the Texican and his giant sidekick El Caballo to see the real Mexico and warned them about El Gato Enfermo. Aztec shaman Kasape Suka (Steven Tyler) leads them on a wild night. They run into the girls again and it goes all wrong.

Erik Palladino is a recognizable actor which makes him character less scary as a local Mexican. That pales in comparison to Steven Tyler. He makes the movie into camp. It can't regain its horror thriller sensibilities. I do like Britne Oldford who has a crazy vibe. The big bad is pretty nice. There is a nice twist but it's wasted as the movie turns into stupidity. This could never be serious and it's definitely not funny. It's all wrong and Brady is pathetic.

just awful and obvious

[MrBojangles1234 · 2/10 · 7 July 2018]

The whole way through, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. everything you think is happening, is totally happening. it's toothless, it's obvious, it actually gets a little racist in an unaware sort of way, and it's worst sin of all, it's boring.

and there's what i don't get, they threw it ALL the elements they could think of to keep your attention, and it still managed to be boring. i held on to the end, iron willed, waiting for 'something', but all you'll get is the twist that was all but promised from the first moment in.

Not good and not worth it

[korythacher · 4/10 · 8 October 2021]

Happy birthday has an alright opening, and has a nice setup to have a weird drug-fueled psychedelic adventure. Drug Shaman Steven Tyler makes an appearance along with a couple shady characters and they do some cool camera effects and words on the screen.

They almost immediately turn it into a kidnap & torture movie and only have one hallucination scene. At that point the movie is alright, but different. It's not particularly good, but it does have some uncomfortable scenes, which seems like the main point they wanted to stick.

The ending(s) they decide to use are awful, like truly absolutely awful. They felt lazy, and unbelievable in every way and really killed the whole film for me. That said, it wasn't an awful watch, and it held my attention for a lot of it. It wasn't a total train wreck, but the ending is bad enough that I'd skip this for something better.

Some of the ending scenes are done well on their own, but the story is just so-so-so bad at that point, so it was tough to appreciate them. I think it could have been an easy 6 with a better story and probably much higher if they committed to the "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas" feel they initially setup.

Drug Shaman Steven Tyler also turned out to be a pretty lame character, which is a shame since he is pretty great in the first scenes.

Plot not an orginal and very typical ending

[Wrighttake44 · 3/10 · 22 July 2018]

This movie did start out like a comedy but then fast forward quickly to a guy who was the leader of the cartels who picked these 2 american guys to get money out of them. Now this movie I did somewhat enjoyed until the ending where the direction of the movie took it to the level of making another joke out of the original intended joke which did not make any sense to me. This a type of movie just to watch and not take it too serious with friends and adult families due to minor nudity. To be honest the nudity is the only reason why I decided to watch this movie and there is not much of it to be seen aside from the 1 guy running around in his underwear which is just sad.

What about Gremlins?

[nogodnomasters · 9/10 · 9 October 2017]

Brady (Matt Bush) discovers his girlfriend has cheated on him. In steps his buddy Tommy (Riley Litman) to take him to Mexico for a fun filled time to forget her. While there, things go awry and the guys are kidnapped and held for ransom by two slightly sadistic girls.

The film starts out as a comedy then becomes heavy as Brady must fend for his life. Twist was unfortunately expected and Steve Tyler was a treat.

Guide: F-word, sex, stripper nudity.

Fun little indie

[dhbeaner · 8/10 · 19 September 2016]

I read somewhere that the budget for this movie was $500,000. That's ridiculous. I applaud the cast and crew and filmmakers as that's not easy. My favorite part of the movie was the guy from ER playing the tour guide, hilarious. Steve Tyler was funny as well. There were a few twists and turns, and it reminded me of the Hangover meets a Robert Rodriguez movie. I do think it's misleading calling this horror, but still, I had a blast!

The two girls, one who I knew from Waiting with Ryan Reynolds, was great as the love interest, and the other tall black girl was super scary!!! She was great. The other kid I didn't know, but I recognize Matt Bush from Adventureland and a bunch of TV commercials.

My favorite part was the drug kingpin in the hotel room, it shows that the director can fare well with some more serious stuff, but - it was a fun watch. Definitely worth a rental in this day and age of remakes and comic book movies.