This film wasn't exactly life-altering for me, but it definitely got me thinking about ex- boyfriends, and how things may have been different - or how things turned out for them. It's upbeat in that"there are no losers - there's somebody for everybody," but it might take one hell of a journey to find your other half. This movie explores the kind of people that never get discussed in film or media - because they're not cool enough, or sexy, or too neurotic, etc.. But in this movie, you fall in love with the characters who seem a bit out of step, and it makes you want to bitch-slap the pretty people. I give Showalter major props for actually achieving a unique crowd-pleaser. Oh, and it's absolutely hilarious. He has a long career ahead of him.
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larasfire18 May 2005
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dgsweet19 July 2005Saw this at the Maine International Film Festival. It shares some characteristics with prime Woody Allen -- an affection for New York (warmly shot) and a sure sense of casting supporting actors.
Is it a ground-breaking comedy? No. But it is thoroughly charming and entertaining and had the audience laughing at all the moments it intended. The truth is, most people identify not with the pretty leads in glossy romantic comedies but with the zhlubs, and this is a film that gives us permission to identify with the zhlubs (without demonizing the pretty people). There aren't a lot of uncynical comedies out there, and this is a welcome one.
It's also valuable for people casting in the New York area -- there are enough engaging performers in here to cast three or four movies. -
anhedonia23 December 2005The wonderful thing about browsing video stores is coming across films that never came to your local theater - because they were filled with garbage such as "Fever Pitch" and "Be Cool" - and finding out these small films are actually pretty good.
"The Baxter" is certainly one of those films. It's surprisingly sweet without getting maudlin. The characters' neuroses are all charming without ever seeming to be unnatural. And the film's also awfully funny.
It's helped immensely by a superbly deadpan performance by Michael Showalter. He plays his character completely straight and the laughs come naturally. And the always wonderful Michelle Williams again proves why she's quite possibly one of the most under-rated actresses today. She's so good at playing slightly quirky people without ever seeming odd. Just take a look at turn in "The Station Agent" (2003).
The film gets wonderful supporting work from Elizabeth Banks, Justin Theroux - his entrance is priceless - and a genuinely funny cameo from Peter Dinklage.
"The Baxter" isn't the greatest comedy, but it's certainly better than most of the fare that's in theaters right now. It has a certain honesty. You can't help but feel for the title character and his predicaments. Most of us have been there and it's hard not to like this chap. He also surrounds himself with oddballs who never take away anything from the film. Of course, they're movie people but they add something unique to this special little film. -
noahad21 January 2006A quirky premise and some delightful performances made this film refreshingly true to its stated goal. Showalter is charmingly awkward and perplexed throughout, as a "baxter," one of the guys who are always left alone at the altar when their brides' true loves return to abduct them. Michelle Williams is exceptional in her role, and Jon DeVries and Peter Dinklage both contribute some great comedic moments.
A few sour notes rang out, including Elizabeth Banks' performance as Caroline Swann, which seemed confused and inconsistent. But The Baxter's power is in its non-standard take on old romance stereotypes. The impassioned speeches of each reformed lover to his girl are wonderfully recast from the perspective of the safe, nice guy who is our protagonist here. True love for him is not in being a daredevil or a risk-taker, but simply being himself and taking the opportunity that presents itself. As a new kind of romantic comedy that doesn't necessarily play by the rules, The Baxter succeeds in many ways. -
scheer-317 February 2007I love this movie for many reasons, but what I want to do here is talk about where the title comes from. Even professional reviewers seem to have missed this.
I am not sure that this will spoil the movie for those who haven't seen it yet, but I did check the "Contains spoiler" box, just in case.
In any event, the hero defines a "Baxter" as the nice guy who doesn't get the girl in the end. Claims this is what his grandmother called such men.
The fact is that the classic Billy Wilder movie, "The Apartment" (1960), featured a hero played by Jack Lemmon whose name in that movie is C.C. "Bud" Baxter.
That character does get the girl in the end. In both movies, though, the emphasis is not so much on some "mystery" to be solved, but on the fact that the course of true love doesn't always run smoothly. And that we don't always know just who it is that we have actually fallen in love with.
I love both movies. Perhaps it's a good idea to watch them back to back. That way the enjoyment of the one would add to the enjoyment of the other. They are different, but have certain interesting themes in common. -
george.schmidt7 September 2005THE BAXTER (2005) ** Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Williams, Justin Theroux, Michael Ian Black, Peter Dinklage, Paul Rudd. So-so rom-comedy of manners with Showalter (who wrote and directed) as the titular doofus whose life-long suffering as a nerd who cannot grow a spine when it comes to matters of the heart finds his latest challenge in the form of his fiancée's long-lost high school beau (Theroux), while his office temp friend (the sunny and welcome Williams) offers him more than a shoulder to cry on when said fiancée (the underused Elisabeth Shue doppelganger Banks) fails to see his true emotions. A few amusing moments but Showalter's cartoony turn grates most of the time.
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pagen1 January 2006Is it just me, or was this an homage to The Apartment (Best Picture 1960)? Baxter, was played by Jack Lemon in the Billy Wilder classic. I got a feel for it here, but it was a tad shy of a full load for my tastes, but the subtly in places and the "everyone is a Baxter" message were warm and sincere.
Recently I have been spoiled by faster and smother paced silly, love stories by the likes of the Friends' cast, Sandler, and Stiller. Even the classics from the 50's through the 70's often found a more stable pace to encourage us to follow along.
The glacially slow development of the main characters' true desires takes something away from this movie for me. But perhaps that was just the point. Sometimes it takes us to be pushed to the edge to face what we want to do with our love. A little better pacing, a better mixing of the silly and the subtle would have made this an exceptional movie. I will wait hopefully for Michael Showalter's (director/writer ) next effort. -
The main character was interesting and the movie is charming overall. I didn't like the way the story was told with flashbacks. It was predictable and I really wanted a major surprise or two. The acting was good and you learn what a baxter is. I had never heard of one, but all of the characters in the film spoke of baxters like everyone knows what they are. There is a minor twist at the end, but that is the only real surprise and it makes you smile a bit. All things considered, it was a great try for an independent film. I can only hope the actor/director learns from this so that he can improve and keep getting better and better. He shows a lot of potential to make many movies in the future.
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thegalacticcadet17 June 2005I saw this movie during the "Free Drive-In Movies at Rockefeller Center" series in New York City, on 15 June 2005. It doesn't get a wider release until later this summer, but when it does, I would see this movie with my grandparents. Heck, I could see this movie with my great- grandparents. I could go see this with my snobby friends, and my culturally clueless friends, and I think they all would like it. I'm actually looking forward to bringing my parents to see it, because not only do I think they'll really enjoy it, but I feel like it's finally one of those "movies their weird artsy daughter likes" that I can show them and know that they won't be either appalled over or baffled by.
This is in NO way intended to imply that The Baxter is boring or sappy or in any way oversimplified completely the opposite. The film and the characters are complex, even though they are intentionally written as types. Despite being told through a series of flashbacks, there is no plot that can be ruined by showing the ending at the beginning the whole point of the story is that you already know how these things always end, and the story is in how the characters get there. Like any good character study, the film makes the most of its preordained plot by reaching those ends through uniquely-developed means.
One of the reasons that so many movies that could be labeled "family appropriate" are so bad is because the fact that they're so decent feels so contrived like the raunchy and disturbing parts of life are taken out, and what's left becomes the plot of a PG movie. What makes The Baxter different in its broad appeal is not that it aims low, but that it lifts the audience up to its level. It encourages the viewer to explore other facets of the romantic comedy standard without ever leading them into territory so foreign or artificial that they are unable to relate to the characters or the circumstances. Quite simply, this is a decent and proper and earnest movie because it's told from the point of view of decent and proper and earnest people. It's good, and it's damn good, because, among other things, like excellent costume and set designs, great characters, ridiculous attention to detail, and beautiful directorial choices, it doesn't cater or pander to any one sort of person or audience it's a clever take on a timeless theme, and it's executed in a way that that just about anyone can appreciate. It's sincere, it's honest, it's believable, it's incredibly moving, and it's memorably unique it also just so happens to be extremely polite, because some movies, like some people, are just polite by nature, and that's what makes them who they are. Highly recommended. -
I caught the Baxter on Sunday night at its world premiere. On the whole I will say it was a "cute" little movie. I was disappointed however. I am a big fan of The State and an even BIGGER fan of Wet Hot American Summer. I also love the Stella shorts dearly. If you are looking for a movie with wickedly funny dialog in the vein of WHAM, then you too will be disappointed. The Baxter is a sweet film with a lot of hear. Michael Showalter obviously has talent. I didn't find myself laughing during the movie though. I smiled a lot. I also had a giggle or two...but it felt watered down compared to Stella or WHAM. Overall though, the movie is worth checking out. Maybe i went in expecting too much from it. In any case when the movie opens to a wide release in August you should check it out. And if you don't, I hope badgers maul your face.
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Baxters, as it's explained in the movie, are those bachelors who get dumped before the alter. That's what happened to Elliot, a nerdy but benevolent accountant. He tells us the story about meeting the girl he was going to marry and how her former boyfriend Bradley (a good looking lad, the very opposite of Elliot) comes again into her life. She is getting cold towards Elliot but she's very understanding towards Bradley and his problems. It's obvious she's still hot when it comes to Bradley, and in that situation Elliot is looking even more nerdy. But there's this other girl that seems more honest and sincere than his fiancée, but she has a boyfriend...
I would say that the movie has spoiled itself because we know from the start that Elliot is get dumped. And after we see the new secretary-girl, its not difficult for us to guess that they will start a relationship, and that has also affected my vote for this movie. Anyway, it can be recommended to all those who are mainly fond of romantic comedies. -
reverendtom18 September 2005I really like "The Baxter." Now, I am a confessed Showalter, Wain, Black, The State, "Wet Hot", Stella fanatic, so I obviously have a history with these guys and their particular brand of humor. This is a great, sweet, hilarious little movie. These State alumnus guys have a very intelligent, interesting, off kilter type of humor that is definitely love it or not get it. Watch "Stella" sometime with a room full of your friends. Half of them will laugh extremely hard, and half of them won't get it. If you are familiar with Show and his humor, you will love this film. Its much more subtle than Stella or Wet Hot American Summer, but there are some huge laughs in it. It is probably the only romantic comedy I've ever seen that I really like. Highly recommended!
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ferguson-615 September 2005Greetings again from the darkness. Writer, Director and Lead Actor Michael Showalter ("Wet, Hot Summer", "Stella shorts") attempts to deliver the whole package with this one - even billing it as a Howard Hawks type screwball romantic comedy. What we get is a very cute, enjoyable low budget romcom with a stellar supporting cast and pretty weak leading man.
Part of what made the Howard Hawks films work was he often had Cary Grant in the lead. Sorry, Mr. Showalter, but you are no Cary Grant. With such a strong supporting cast, I would be very interested to see what a real actor could have done with this role. Not sure if ego or budgetary issues drove the decision, but it definitely did not help the film.
Elizabeth Banks ("The 40 Year Old Virgin", "Seabiscuit") is terrific as Caroline. She brings so much energy to her roles that it forces her co-actors to step it up a notch. Peter Dinklage (so great in "The Station Agent") is hilarious as the most observant wedding planner. He has a slyness and screen presence that eludes most. The real gem of the film is Michelle Williams ("The Station Agent"). Her earnestness and realness are mesmerizing and heart-warming. Throw in Michael Ian Black (looking pretty rough in the colored briefs) and Paul Rudd (fresh off great reviews for "The 40 year old Virgin") and you see what I mean about the supporting cast.
The idea of a "baxter" being the guy (or girl ... see Michelle Williams character) or always manages to lose out at the last minute to the other "true love" is brilliant and easy for most of us to relate to. The film is well written and overall well-acted. The scene in Elliot's apartment when Carolyn (Banks) ALMOST discovers Michelle Williams while arguing with Elliot is pure screwball physical comedy at its very best.
This is definitely one to see and you will laugh a few times and smile many, but it will leave you wondering .... "if only they had cast ...?" -
working986 February 2008Showalter does Stella all over again. If you don't know what Stella is, then you needn't concern yourself with this film. It's wasted on you. If you DO love Stella, then this is EXACTLY what you're hoping it is: awkward, wasp-ish and and well... awkward.
If the idea of middle-class losers is inherently funny, then The Baxter will be a laugh extravaganza riot with pyrotechnics and flaming strippers. If you have discerning tastes about storytelling, humor, acting or plot, then this "film" will make you wish you had opted for an evening of anything mediocre on CBS instead.
Interestingly Showalter gets Michelle Williams, Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks to completely waste themselves in this drudgery of white-collar ...well... how often can the word awkward be used in a review? But it's the only thing that applies to the entire ouvre of Showalter's career.
Awkward and nebbish account manager Showalter woos Banks and for no reason whatsoever wins her heart, though she's obviously wrong for him as HE (get this!) has too much class for her. So he refuses to see the love in front of him that is in fact the (here it comes again) awkward dork played (rather well, thank you, since she's actually a capable actress) by Michelle Williams.
One saving grace of the film is a bit of underwear clad Williams. If SKIN is the best this film has to offer, you might think twice, knowhumsayn? So, let's say obvious, strained, predictable and pointless. Thank you Showtime for rerunning this every 48 hours until I finally watched it in the (vain) hope that you'd eventually STOP! And yes. I know. I'm just TOO uncool to grasp the subtle comic genius of Michael Ian Black in a Speedo. Right. Look. He's funny as hell on VH-1. He has no business doing improv, let alone sketch comedy-cum-feature film experiment.
If not for the fact that Showalter is a good drinking buddy to ACTUALLY talented people such as Rudd et.al., this film would never have even been picked up on bargain-bin for Showtime. Let's hope Showalter gets a gig writing for Conan O'Brien or someone so that he can be diluted in future by writers of actual vision, capability and perhaps talent.
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I genuinely enjoyed this film. Even more after multiple viewings. You must take it for what it is (which is a light hearted romantic comedy) yet its humor is not of the typical Hollywood romantic comedy. The boys of stella give it some edge while managing to maintain a seamless blend with the romantic aspects of the movie. Its not a "mean" edge, or a "hip" edge or a "dirty" edge that the humor has, its more of an absurdist edge that the Stella troupe is known for. However, where Stella can often fail (and succeed for that matter) is when they go too far, and the entire storyline and every moment becomes absurd, and things risk getting to a point where they are no longer funny. I think the boys have found the perfect showcase of their brand of humor in this film because the absurdist aspects are thoughtfully sprinkled on top of a solid foundation of a cookie cutter romantic comedy story. Much of the film is smile and giggle funny, with a few moments of absolute humour nukes. Most importantly, you grow to genuinely like and care about the characters in the film. Justin Theroux is genius as Bradley.
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I thought the actors in The Baxter were well cast. It also has a promising beginning and fun, smile-making finale. The string of relationship mini-horrors were amusing and occasionally charming.
However, it managed to feel longer than its 90 minutes. I know that since the film was made for laughs, it's not essential to get that complex with plot or people. But even knowing the story outcome and being cool with that, I just wanted a few character surprises to intrigue me enough throughout the movie's middle.
Also, I wasn't sure if I had sympathy for Elliot or not. He seemed a bit of an empty shell for someone who is successful, enjoys learning, and is the story's main focus. Even though Elliot's fiancée Caroline might have been settling for him all along, I still ended up liking her more than him.
Don't get me wrong. I don't regret seeing The Baxter. It's just that I've seen funnier and more real (at least in theory) movie dweebs via Napolean Dynamite, Office Space, and even the first Revenge of the Nerds (well, Booger anyway). -
siderite17 July 2007The perspective is new. I mean, the main character is really a dope, a geek, the type of guy that even romantic comedies make fun of. And this one does too, a little, however, he meets the girl of his dream in the end just like in any other romcom.
This movie has a lot of potential. A dorky character surrounded by nasty, egocentric people like in the real world is a great setup for real comedy, with real humour, one that you can relate to. But no. The setup is totally misused. The only way this film could have been a success would have been to be made by Brits. Or Jackie Chan.
Bottom line: it was a nice try to escape the pathetic and ridiculous stereotype of romantic comedies, but it ultimately failed, being an unromantic, long, humourless, boring movie. -
elshikh47 June 2010A story about someone who loves another to discover that love, true love, is totally else where. This critical "second thoughts" problem can be healthy sometimes, helping us to uncover what we really are, and that just served movies best. It turned into an everlasting theme in the romantic comedy; assuring how the world is big romantic comedy we live. This time, the things feel differently. There are no Hollywood stuff; stars, fart jokes, etc. We have a nice cast, performance, and dialogue. So, what went wrong?
Since the 2000s, the flashback technique became a strange fashion to tell a story, a comic one in specific. You can see that clearly in American TV sitcoms like Grounded for Life (2001), and My Name Is Earl (2005). This movie uses it in a strange and so excessive way. One of the worst uses is telling the whole story as a flashback (since we saw the ending in the start); sure that ruined the whole movie, making it dead predictable.
The story till the accident of the wedding planner was so well, after that, things grew less importantly, the pace got slower, and the comedy became too poor. Furthermore, the supposedly funny characters, nearly a dozen, weren't so funny themselves. The movie didn't make any efforts to care about such people, hence whenever the event's vitality lessens, something may compensate. But no such luck.
(Michael Showalter) made a lovely character. His realistic touch to the kind of geek that he performed produced something original. It is a shame not to see him in "big" "Hollywood" "flicks", rather the mainstream cinema. (Michelle Williams) was angelic. For me, she was the center of attraction in any scene she was in. At first, I refused her wise lines, but afterwards, I caught on the fact that her character has much experience than the lead, since she takes risks more than him, living more than one job unlike him.
I felt (Woody Allen) underneath everything; with Brooklyn's streets, flats, bars, and bourgeoisie, then a sophisticated nerd for a lead, a handsome cool as a competitor, a singing great girl who the lead doesn't care about, and a doomed love. Thank God that at least we didn't have to hear (Woody)'s ancient jazz tracks, or follow his ever one-note self here. But on the contrary, this one missed the (Allen) pace and hilarity. And compared to other American romantic comedies, like (A Guy Thing - 2003) which's nearly has the same story, it missed the same points. Sorrowfully, with or without any comparison, (The Baxter) has these problems indeed.
This is a very simple movie. A bit of preciosity, with a bit of poorness, just tarnished big part of its simplicity's beauty, to be finally half good, half empty. Still nice though, having a pure taste of innocence, sweetness, and a multi-allergic intellectual as a romantic lead; to be a gregarious decent man, not a forever laughingstock misfit. Let alone a rare and hopeful viewpoint: "I don't believe in baxters"; as people who won't find love. Now, you have to love that apart. -
A couple of weeks ago, the mid-90s sketch comedy show The State was released on DVD. Though many who weren't there at the time will always be in the dark about it, it was one of the most important releases of the year in my mind. It is a Gen X classic. And it holds up quite well, I'm happy to report. The State may not be as consistent as, say, The Kids in the Hall, which I've rewatched all the way through recently, but it's a lot of fun. Plus, the troupe went on to do many great things afterward. Perhaps the best known is Reno 911, starring State alums like Thomas Lennon, Robert Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney (several other State members appear in cameo roles). The other major group of State alums created the bizarre and brilliant Comedy Central show Stella in 2005. The same year, State/Stella alum Michael Showalter (aka Doug, perhaps the best remembered recurring character of The State) wrote and directed The Baxter. It's a romantic comedy that claims up front to be subverting the genre. Unfortunately, that's largely untrue. While it begins with a common rom-com convention - a girl is getting married to a boring guy when her true love bursts into the church to declare his love - it focuses on the third wheel, played by Showalter himself. The thing is, though, that, when the film flashes back to the beginning of the story, the girl he's marrying (Elizabeth Banks) is the shrew. The real love interest is played by Michelle Williams, as a sort of manic pixie dreamgirl who pops into Showalter's life occasionally. The movie has a decent sense of quirkiness, so it's never boring. Stella/State co-stars Michael Ian Black and David Wain are great in small roles (State co-stars Joe Lo Truglio and Ken Marino also have nice cameos). But the central relationship is sweet but kind of boring. As far as rom-coms go, this isn't a half bad movie. My only real disappointment is that it comes from the mind of Michael Showalter. I felt it just shouldn't have been as conventional as it was.
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Polaris_DiB7 March 2006The Baxter This is probably one of the most underrated films I've seen yet, considering that it's style is basically generic romantic comedy (meaning the makers underrated it themselves), it's gotten little to no viewership... I never even heard of it before I picked it up off the wall (it was next in line).
Anyway, you know all those movies about how the man and the woman love each other but can't figure it out, so the woman almost marries the wrong person before the man crashes the wedding and sweeps her away? Well this is the story of the guy left at the altar, and his search for the "right woman" as well when his character is defined as the safe, content "nice guy" that women are supposed to erroneously try to marry when their lively romantic relationships go awry. Basically that's the long way of saying that this guy is an accountant who spends his time reading the dictionary as a private pleasure, and now he realizes that he'd like to actually get the girl too.
What's absolutely wonderful about this film is that Elliot knows that his problem is that he's such a harmless nice guy, but he knows that being a harmless nice guy is a really great thing to be if you don't take into account that that means losing a lot of relationships because women are more interested in romance risk-takers. So he has to battle his own personality with his own personality while his friends give him TERRIBLE advice that sounds good (we've been there, now haven't we?), he surrounds himself with completely superficial people because superficiality is the only way he knows to fit in, and he totally doesn't notice the direct and not-so-subtle advances from the "right girl" who is, also, way too nice to take risks as well.
In short, it's an absolutely delightful sort of aside in the whole romantic comedy industry, but still uses a lot of the tropes and techniques usual to the form to keep it simple and enjoyable for everyone.
--PolarisDiB -
Elliott (Michael Showalter, who also wrote and directed this nice film) is at the altar when suddenly chaos erupts. His bride, Caroline (Elizabeth Banks) has turned away from him to meet a gentleman, Bradley (Justin Theroux) who has "not held his peace". How has this happened? Well, Elliott gives us a backwards peak into the years leading up to this catastrophe. First, E has had the unfortunate luck to always be a "Baxter". This is a pejorative term describing a man or woman who is always a boyfriend/girlfriend's second choice. When you can't be with the one you love, you settle for a Baxter. Poor Elliot. However, in his life story, the viewer can clearly see that there has been one lady of his acquaintance who probably likes him very much. That would be Cecil Mills (Michelle Williams) who temped for E one day when his secretary was ill. As these two were just beginning a conversation about mutual interests, in waltzed the more flashy Caroline, needing accounting advice. So, Elliot gave Cecil short shrift and placed his more eager attention on Caro. Alas, Carrie is interested in E more in the abstract, having had her heart broken by Bradley. In the year before the wedding, Elliott and Cecil would meet again, but it seems E can never see the good thing in front of him and favors the more snooty and financially successful C. But, wait, as E is ultimately jilted, will Cecil still be around when E comes to his senses? This is a very fine film that will please fans of comedy and romance. Showalter is not star-handsome but as the writer-director-leading man of this small gem, one has to hold him in admiration. Banks, Theroux, Peter Dinklage, Zak Orth, Paul Rudd and, most especially, Williams back him up him very well. In fact, Williams steals the show once again as the sweet but non-assertive Cecil. She sings, too! One will also enjoy the Manhattan setting, the great costumes and the other film amenities. Therefore, if your are in search of a new film to give you a bit of rest and relaxation, The Baxter fits the bill.
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nyclajd17 December 2005I like the boys from Stella and had high hopes for this film, but I was disappointed. There were a few moments of humor, but for the most part the script was actually kind of boring. The acting was part of the problem also, with Showalter in particular being overly mannered and self-conscious. The two ladies were quite good, though, especially Michelle Williams, who was so effective every time she was on screen that she almost seemed like she was in a different movie that everyone else. I am not an expert but I think most of the blame here is to bad direction as the scenes just did not seem well-staged and the camera angles seemed to be misplaced a lot of the time. My friend does not really like Stella-type humor and she liked the movie better than I did, so maybe it was kind of an expectations problem as well.
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Joe-9329 December 2005I picked up The Baxter about a week ago on a Friday at the end of a long week when my girlfriend and I were looking for something light and entertaining and was amazed at how much I loved it. It's the funniest romantic comedy I've seen in years. . .I don't give movies a "10" lightly, but this one earns it because all of the pieces work so well together. The star/writer/director seems a perfect sort of nebish, a perfect dull but steady and reliable guy. He's the sort of character who shows up in so many romantic comedies: the Bill Pullman character in Sleepless in Seattle or the Ralph Bellamy character in His Girl Friday--the guy who gets dumped by the girl when someone more exciting comes along. Eliot in this film may be the quintessential dull, steady, reliable nice guy: he seems always in a sweater vest and his favorite day of the week is Monday. I know some who have commented have said that Michael Showalter is the weakest cast member; one person commented that he wasn't Cary Grant. Well, no--but that's the point. You need someone who can handle the delicate balance between being an interesting protagonist but who also is believable as a male wallflower. This movie is not about the character Cary Grant would have played but the character that Ralph Bellamy would have played--and Showalter is brilliant in the role. The rest of the cast is stupendous. Michelle Williams is perfect as the girl we root for and the supporting cast is also outstanding. A hint: if you're not the kind of person who sticks around for the end credits, do so for this film. There's an extra scene in the middle of the credits that's funny but also casts the entire film in a new light.
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Because of my devotion to the boys of Stella, I was a pre-ordained fan on this movie before it came out, and a poster hung on my door even before I saw it. However, I just saw it, and I'm taking it down, because the movie sucked.
Nobody could ever criticize me of 'not understanding the humor'. I am a Stella fanatic. I'm the one guy of my friends who finds it hysterical all the time. This just was not. I was really disappointed. It just wasn't funny at all. I kept waiting....'oh...it'll come....' but it didn't. There were no jokes. Some people may have said that it was subtle. It wasn't. I think that's just rationalization...sometimes you just have to accept when you have to call the bomb squad.
I give it a 3 out of 10 because I didn't hate it, but it was painful to get through. It was pathetically predictable, and I found that the best part was the drinking game that was played involving impersonations. Does anyone know what game that was? Yech. -
Elliot, the CPA who is seen at the beginning of the picture, is a nerd. Don't get me wrong, he is a good nerd, and that's his own downfall. We watch him as Carloline Swann, his fiancée, enters the church to stand next to him. Right there we realize these two are not made for one another. But have no fear, help is on the way. When the female minister asks the congregation if there is anyone who knows why this marriage can't proceed, a disheveled Bradley, who loves Caroline, comes forward to claim her for his own, leaving Elliot at the altar alone.
The action then goes back in flashbacks as to how Elliot and Caroline met. Elliot has employed a temp, Cecil Mills, who is new to Manhattan and is late for work because she got lost. Cecil and Elliot seem to strike a much balanced match, but the beauty of Caroline, when she enters the office erases all traces of the mousy Cecil from Elliot's mind, as he doesn't finish asking her for a concert that night.
As the preparations for the wedding get on the way, we realize Elliot and Caroline are not suited for one another. There is a hilarious gay wedding planner called Benson Hedges who will be in charge of the nuptials. Elliot in the end will be "the Baxter" of the title, because he is the man who will end up without getting the luscious Caroline.
This wonderful comedy written and directed by Michael Showalter, came and went without much fanfare. It deserved much better, but it might have been the timing for its release that killed all the possibilities, as it came out right after "The 40 Year Old Virgin" had captured the movie going public's affections. This film, in comparison, is like a string quartet. Its heart is in the right place and Mr. Showalter got excellent acting from his ensemble cast.
The director, like Woody Allen, just to mention another writer-creator, could have done better by staying behind the camera and casting his Elliot with another actor. Not that he doesn't do a good job, but perhaps he would have made Elliot a more lovable character than what comes in the screen.
Michelle Williams steals the film. This actress is amazing. She may not have the meatiest role, but she is someone who the viewer will remember in spite of the beautiful, and talented Elizabeth Banks, who plays the two-timing Caroline. Justin Theroux is Bradley, the boyfriend who couldn't stay away. Zak Orth, Paul Rudd, Havilland Morris, and especially Peter Dinklage, are all wonderful in supporting roles.
"The Baxter" is a delightful film thanks to the talented Michael Showalter who will no doubt will go far in whatever he decides to do next.