Birthright Review: Dysfunctional Family Unit

Although the central theme of Birthright will resonate with some viewers, its overly absurd narrative is too unrealistic to connect with fully.

The added cherry on top of this mess is the fact that his wife Jasmine (Maria Angelico) is heavily pregnant, so the pair having nowhere to live before the baby arrives adds a serious complication to the matter.  

As a last resort, Cory deceives his wealthy parents, Richard (Michael Hurst) and Lyn (Linda Cropper), by showing up to their house for lunch and asking if he and his wife can stay for a short time, as their current rental is being fumigated. He’s also fabricated that they’ll be moving to a different place in three weeks anyway, so a brief stay with his parents and impinging on their space temporarily is the least of their worries. 

If you’ve ever needed help from your family as an adult due to financial struggles, Birthright’s core theme will strike a personal chord. In a world where the cost of goods continues to rise, and people who desperately need to make a living send out numerous job applications only to receive radio silence, Cory and Jasmine’s situation will resonate with viewers. However, beyond this relatable subject, I struggled to find any aspects of the film’s storyline that fully worked for me.    

Birthright is labeled as a pitch-black comedy, and it’s clear that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously. As soon as Jasmine and Cory arrive at his parents’ house, the movie leans completely into the absurdity of the situation. Shortly after moving in, Cory and Jasmine take his parents’ personal belongings, kick Richard and Lyn out of their own bedroom, and even cause physical damage to the home. 

Cory acts like a petulant child for nearly the entire film’s runtime which grows tiresome quickly. He also acts so spoiled that he’s hard to root for as a character. Even if the audience is not meant to like him as a person, I couldn’t imagine any parent would tolerate this behavior and put up with so much destruction in their home because they feel bad about the situation their child has gotten into. In essence, Birthright’s comedic gags feel repetitive, and the narrative prioritizes laughs over logic. 

Although I found the story difficult to connect with, to give credit where it’s due, the cast’s performances are excellent. The way Cory behaves is incredibly frustrating, which is a true testament to Jeffery’s acting abilities because the character he portrays gets under your skin so much. Similarly, Hurst and Cropper do a great job of portraying stern parents, who are over their son’s excessive antics. At the same time, Angelico delivers a more subdued performance through the character of Jasmine and adopts a much more balanced approach to the chaotic situation.

Birthright reflects the adjustment period that occurs when someone moves back in with their parents later in life, but the way it’s explored feels disconnected from logic. If you’re someone who can get past unrealistic absurdity easily, then the film may be for you. However, if you’re like me and need more grounded aspects in a film that centers on real-life struggles, this movie might feel too exaggerated and comedically repetitive to connect with fully. 

Birthright was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, 2025 and will be screened again on June 6-7.