Who is Stephen Tobolowsky? If I were to ask that question to the average person on the street, they might guess he's a politician or lawyer. They might simply shrug their shoulders and walk away. They might even smack me over the head with their purse, mistaking me for a mugger. The truth is, most people have no idea who Stephen Tobolowsky is… by name. But if you were to show those same people a photograph (with the possible exception of the purse-smacker… don’t really want to approach her again…) from one of the 150 plus movie and television roles he's played, I guarantee they would instantly recognize him. Tobolowsky is an actor. But not just any actor… he is one of the rare breed of character actors with the ability to throw themselves fully into any role, whether it be dramatic, comedic or anywhere in between. His list of credits is a mile long, with everything from "Groundhog Day" to "Mississippi Burning" "Seinfeld."

Go ahead, check out his résumé on IMDB.com, if you've never seen him in anything… you've never watched TV or set foot in a movie theatre.

As for myself, I tend to be a little more knowledgeable in the entertainment field, and have a special affinity for character actors. If the tables were turned and some came up to me and asked, "Who is Stephen Tobolowsky," I'd start rattling off the roles… unless I thought they were trying to take my purse… which would be really weird… cause I'm a guy………. Anyhow, being that as it may, when I heard that there was a movie floating around the festival circuit called "Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party" I was instantly intrigued.

Considering the amazingly long list of films under his belt, "Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party" became an instant favorite after watching it the other night. The title is not tricky in anyway, as it is as it says… a celebration of a man surrounded by friends and family. Yet it is far more than that. What we learn from watching this film is that Tobolowksy is not only a terrific actor, but he is a gifted storyteller. He spends the majority of the film telling stories of his experiences. At first it is only to the camera as he prepares for the get-together, then later to his group of friends.

To the average moviegoer, I'm sure this might sound like an absolute bore. I can hear the questions now. "What? Just a lot of talking? No explosions or car chases? Why would I want to see that?" Well, these are ridiculous questions that would come from the uncultured. "Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party" is a purely joyful experience. The man is able to mesmerize you with the stories, not just because of how darn fascinating they are to begin with, but the way he tells them. (…It's not the tale, but he who tells it…)

Occasionally other members of the party (which include the likes of Mena Suvari and Amy Adams) speak out with their own comments, but this is Stephen's movie as much as it is his birthday. As filmed and directed by longtime friend Robert Brinkmann, the setting is very relaxed, often making the viewer feel as though they are sitting right in the room with his guests. Brinkman makes no attempts to hide the cameras, adding to the laid back feel of the whole film.

Speaking of the stories Tobolowsky tells… geez this guy has done it all. There's not a boring tale in the bunch, whether he's talking about meeting a real Klansman while working on "Mississippi Burning" or experiences with LSD one Christmas. And if you're in the mood for a story that's easier to relate to, he even shares a story of his wife's pregnancy. And here's the best way I can think of to tell you how much fun these stories are to listen to, the DVD's extra features are made up of an additional 90 minutes of stories, and I had to watch them immediately following the film itself.

"Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party" represents the best that Hollywood has to offer in terms of the actor himself and his film. It offered one of the most enjoyable times I've had watching a movie in a long while and deserves a much, much bigger audience than I imagine it is currently getting. The DVD is available through a handful of online retailers and directly through the film's website (http://www.stbpmovie.com). My suggestion to you if you have any taste at all is buy it, watch it, and enjoy it.

Directed by: Robert Brinkmann
Starring: Stephen Tobolowsky
Extras: Additional Stories
Release Date: 5/30/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Stephen Tobolowky's Birthday Party an A.