Romantic comedy motion pictures are a dime a dozen as of late, with the one ones capable of actually stand out having distinctive premises and interesting lead characters. The Baltimorons manages to do exactly that because of its expertly-crafted narrative and heartfelt premise. Directed by Jay Duplass and co-written by Duplass and star Michael Strassner, the movie follows Strassner’s Cliff as he plans to attend Christmas Eve dinner at his fiancée’s guardian’s dwelling.
Nonetheless, catastrophe strikes when Cliff has to get emergency dental surgical procedure. Driving on his personal by Baltimore, he manages to discover a dentist, Didi (Liz Larsen), who briefly opens her clinic to assist him. Whereas there, although, he discovers that her personal plans for Christmas have been upended on account of a shock household dilemma.
A collection of occasions ensue that maintain the pair collectively for longer than anticipated, leading to an journey throughout town. Whereas there is a fixed tug-of-war as to the place their evening will finish, The Baltimorons sees them get nearer than they anticipated. This ends in some of the heartwarming motion pictures of the yr as a feel-good love story performs out over the course of Christmas Eve evening.
The Baltimorons’ Lead Actors Have Unimaginable Chemistry
The standout side of The Baltimorons is simply how a lot chemistry its lead actors have. The majority of the film is constructed by conversations between Cliff and Didi, necessitating the celebs to have apparent onscreen sparks. Strassner and Larsen expertly pull off their quirky relationship, making the pair really feel like actual folks simply having fun with each other’s firm.
It helps that Duplass and Strassner’s script incorporates snappy, quick-witted dialogue between the 2 of them. Cliff and Didi’s reactions to their conditions really feel lifelike, as do their common conversations. The sleek supply of each single line made me marvel at instances whether or not the whole lot they stated was on the web page. Every phrase was delivered so naturally, it was like trying into the lives of two individuals who truly exist.
The identical may be stated for his or her characterizations, with the film slowly peeling again layers to each of them that make them greater than their surface-level first impressions. What makes this stand out is that the vacation rom-com reveals extra by their actions than their phrases. Their dialogue is participating and snappy, bringing them nearer collectively. However it’s what they do all through the evening that actually defines them.
There is a deeper thematic contact to their misadventures as properly, particularly in terms of their pasts effervescent to the floor. They’re each misplaced souls seeking to higher themselves, and it is the assist of each other that upholds their makes an attempt. It solely strengthens their relationship, making the whole lot that occurs evening really feel like destiny.
It is due to this method that the film finally ends up having a feel-good tone. The unlikely bond Cliff and Didi share turns into infectious, making their story immersive to look at unfold. There’s not a single line of dialogue or motion that both takes that appears like a waste of time. Every thing serves the plot or their bond, with not a single second current simply to fill area.
The Baltimorons Is Extra Than Simply Your Common Love Story
However what actually makes The Baltimorons so charming is that its love story is only one side of the larger narrative. Cliff and Didi could also be from completely different walks of life, however the movie does an exceptional job at showcasing how their points are comparable. Cliff is six months sober from each alcohol and his former ardour for sketch comedy, whereas Didi continues to be therapeutic from a nasty divorce as her ex-husband is getting remarried.
Each characters have a type of ache that neither is ready to sort out alone. However the way in which the film approaches their conditions is not so on-the-nose. As a substitute, the movie makes use of the strengths of its core duo to discover what these struggles imply for them thematically. The conclusions drawn solely serve to strengthen the core romance, doing so in unconventional ways in which by no means didn’t make me smile.
That human story simply serves to bolster how great its central story actually is. The best way each characters discover some stage of solace in each other whereas additionally letting free regardless of the restrictions of their lives makes each interplay all of the extra endearing. And it additionally makes The Baltimorons top-of-the-line motion pictures of the yr.
With a core duo that is fascinating to look at and a candy love story that tugs on the heartstrings at instances, The Baltimorons is a stellar holiday-themed story that is good for any time of the yr. A wonderful film with ardour in each scene, this movie deserves to go down as the perfect romantic comedy of 2025.
The Baltimorons will get a restricted launch in New York Metropolis on September 5, 2025, adopted by a large theatrical launch on September 12, 2025.
The Baltimorons
9/10
- Launch Date
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March 8, 2025
- Runtime
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99 minutes
- Director
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Jay Duplass
- Writers
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Jay Duplass, Michael Strassner
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Michael Strassner
Uncredited
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- Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen have stellar chemistry as Cliff and Didi.
- The screenplay completely matches its lead actors’ vitality in each dialogue and story.
- Cliff and Didi’s love story weaves its approach by a bigger, layered narrative.
- Themes and moments that tug on the heartstrings in a cheerfully charming approach.