John Powers

She's got a country house, two cool daughters, and a husband, Jacob, who's so attractive he's played by Antonio Banderas. But, and it's a decisive but, their sex life has never worked for Romy. Nineteen years into her marriage, she fakes extravagant orgasms, then sneaks away to satisfy herself while watching dodgy domination porn.

All that changes one morning when, walking to work, she watches a striking young man tame a big, out-of-control dog. As in a dream, this same striking young man immediately turns up in the company offices as a new intern, Samuel. He's played by Harris Dickinson. At once mumbling and aggressive, like a 50s method actor, Samuel somehow sees straight into Romney's roiling psyche.

All that changes one morning when, walking to work, she watches a striking young man tame a big, out-of-control dog. As in a dream, this same striking young man immediately turns up in the company offices as a new intern, Samuel. He's played by Harris Dickinson. At once mumbling and aggressive, like a 50s method actor, Samuel somehow sees straight into Romney's roiling psyche.

All that changes one morning when, walking to work, she watches a striking young man tame a big, out-of-control dog. As in a dream, this same striking young man immediately turns up in the company offices as a new intern, Samuel. He's played by Harris Dickinson. At once mumbling and aggressive, like a 50s method actor, Samuel somehow sees straight into Romney's roiling psyche.

Their early meetings always have a sexual edge, starting when they talk in the company kitchen when she asks him to bring her a cup of coffee.

Their early meetings always have a sexual edge, starting when they talk in the company kitchen when she asks him to bring her a cup of coffee.

Their early meetings always have a sexual edge, starting when they talk in the company kitchen when she asks him to bring her a cup of coffee.

No. Samuel senses that Romy fantasizes about being ordered what to do. And though she initially resists his inappropriate forwardness, getting involved with interns is, after all, strictly forbidden, we know it's only a matter of time. After a bit of verbal sparring, he has Romy doing his bidding in the bedroom. He calls her baby girl and helps her achieve the pleasure she's longed for.

No. Samuel senses that Romy fantasizes about being ordered what to do. And though she initially resists his inappropriate forwardness, getting involved with interns is, after all, strictly forbidden, we know it's only a matter of time. After a bit of verbal sparring, he has Romy doing his bidding in the bedroom. He calls her baby girl and helps her achieve the pleasure she's longed for.

No. Samuel senses that Romy fantasizes about being ordered what to do. And though she initially resists his inappropriate forwardness, getting involved with interns is, after all, strictly forbidden, we know it's only a matter of time. After a bit of verbal sparring, he has Romy doing his bidding in the bedroom. He calls her baby girl and helps her achieve the pleasure she's longed for.

Given the unusual dynamic of this relationship, she's his boss at work, he's her boss in bed, Baby Girl promises a daringly grown-up look at both sexuality and power. Yet for all the early talk about the movie being transgressive, to use a played-out buzzword, I was struck by how tame it is.

Given the unusual dynamic of this relationship, she's his boss at work, he's her boss in bed, Baby Girl promises a daringly grown-up look at both sexuality and power. Yet for all the early talk about the movie being transgressive, to use a played-out buzzword, I was struck by how tame it is.

Given the unusual dynamic of this relationship, she's his boss at work, he's her boss in bed, Baby Girl promises a daringly grown-up look at both sexuality and power. Yet for all the early talk about the movie being transgressive, to use a played-out buzzword, I was struck by how tame it is.

Even as Romy says she needs sexual danger, none of her desires take her, or the movie, any place truly dark, or even Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, to her credit, Rain makes a point of not trying to turn us on. She dishes up none of the laughable nudie sleaze found in movies like Nine and a Half Weeks.

Even as Romy says she needs sexual danger, none of her desires take her, or the movie, any place truly dark, or even Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, to her credit, Rain makes a point of not trying to turn us on. She dishes up none of the laughable nudie sleaze found in movies like Nine and a Half Weeks.

Even as Romy says she needs sexual danger, none of her desires take her, or the movie, any place truly dark, or even Fifty Shades of Grey. Now, to her credit, Rain makes a point of not trying to turn us on. She dishes up none of the laughable nudie sleaze found in movies like Nine and a Half Weeks.

Yet, in her fixation on Romy's inner life, whose every throb and flicker Kibben heroically registers, she makes the classic Hollywood mistake of shortchanging everything else. For starters, we have no sense of who Samuel actually is or what he wants. This matters in a film where both Romy and Samuel keep using the word power. Romy may run the company, but she's also an HR nightmare.

Yet, in her fixation on Romy's inner life, whose every throb and flicker Kibben heroically registers, she makes the classic Hollywood mistake of shortchanging everything else. For starters, we have no sense of who Samuel actually is or what he wants. This matters in a film where both Romy and Samuel keep using the word power. Romy may run the company, but she's also an HR nightmare.

Yet, in her fixation on Romy's inner life, whose every throb and flicker Kibben heroically registers, she makes the classic Hollywood mistake of shortchanging everything else. For starters, we have no sense of who Samuel actually is or what he wants. This matters in a film where both Romy and Samuel keep using the word power. Romy may run the company, but she's also an HR nightmare.

Samuel could shipwreck her career with a few well-chosen words. I kept waiting to find out what Samuel is after and what tough choices their dangerous liaison will force her to make.