The Baxter

Is 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.

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.

I 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!

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.

Saw 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.