Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2006)

How sad is this?

Good movie but grossly overrated

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

If you have an interest in Hollywood: see this movie. More over, if you have an interest in life: see this movie! A small and intimate gathering with a man ( spoiler alert) who has changed favorite beers from Budweiser to Heineken.S.T. believes in birthday magic. He just happens to be an accomplished actor who tells a story with panache, who can make it happen himself. He's obviously gregarious and a listener as much as a speaker; but we get a night at home with Steven Tobolowsky, his wife, and friends, edited to show his skill as a master story teller. Seriously, Homer would have had a run for his money asked to compete against S.T. A master storyteller he is indeed. The eponymous birthday boy regales us, as his guests , with not a moment of mean spirit, not a scintilla of bitchiness, and keeps us riveted for the entire film. It's just a relaxed affair, with the family house as the set, yet you've not seen anything quite like this before. Watch out for appearances by WC Field's least favored co-stars in some delightful moments, too.In all: a delight.

I must admit I'm a sucker for a great raconteur. I truly enjoyed listening to Garrison Keillor and Jean Shepherd; they could hold my attention for days. But Stephen Tobolowsky's performance of his everyday stories in "Birthday Party" goes to the top my list.The film creatively transitions from one true life tale to another, and you can't look away. Each narrative is more fascinating then its predecessor and makes you feel like you're sitting right there; at the party and Tobolowsky is telling the story just for you. It's the kind of movie you want to keep watching.Be sure you see this film. I guarantee it'll make you laugh - and it might just also make you cry. That's the magic of an actor of Tobolowsky's stature. He can tell a great story; but best of all - he can make you feel.Two thumbs up, Stephen. Fine Work!

This film was my personal favorite at the Jacksonville Film Festival. While it doesn't hit you with action or effects, the mental images painted through the words of Tobolowsky had me laughing one minute and with tears in my eyes the next.Tobolowsky may be the best story-teller of which I've had the privilege of listening. We're invited into a dinner party on his birthday where he entertains us by sharing some of the things that he's encountered during his life. I'd find it hard to believe that there isn't a little something for everyone in this film. I really hope it gets picked up and released. This is one I would love to have in my collection.

Think of Ewan McGregor/Albert Finney in Big Fish. Now take away the excessive fantasy element, but keep the pantomiming and underlying morals. That pretty much encompasses the tales of relatively unknown actor Stephen Tobolowsky.The stories of his life are entertaining, to say the least. I went from hysterical laughter to choking back tears in a matter of seconds, how many storytellers can accomplish that without being cheesy or using false tactics? I will admit that even i, who have been studying film and theatre for some time, did not recognize the name when i saw it in my SXSW brochure. I saw a poster on the wall of the Alamo draft house and thought "hey! i know that guy! it's Ned Ryerson!" So i thought i'd give it a chance. The second the movie started i knew it would be fantastic, one of those that can possibly alter your view of the world or something. And by the time i left, i knew this movie would be one of those that i talk about to anyone willing to listen for weeks. So in the words of Stephen Tobolowsky himself: "it's better than Spiderman 2!"