The Baxter (2005)

Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

People are voting emotionally.

Good concept, poorly executed.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

This film is about a man who is unlucky in love due to his rigid ways. He learns to break his bad luck by breaking his behavioural pattern."The Baxter" is actually an interesting look at this accountant who is rather unlucky with ladies. His character is interesting, as he is not particularly likable, but he radiates a mischievous charm. "The Baxter" is an unconventional romantic comedy, it is a little dark but it is quite funny at the same time. I particularly found the argument in flat scene and the date in hamburger joint scene funny.For some unknown reason, I find "The Baxter" having an ability to stretch time. I thought I have watched at least an hour when in fact I watched only 30 minutes. Maybe it's the dialog heavy script, or the lack of spacing scenes, or the lack of lighthearted bubbly scenes to sooth the atmosphere. I am not saying it is boring or bad, because it is not.

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.

I did not know what to expect from this movie. Knowing it was written by Mike Showalter and featuring members of Stella/The State, I thought it would be a brash, albeit hysterical, examination of failed relationships. Brash it was not (no sign of dick-fish, here), but I was pleasantly surprised, and it is pretty funny. The story is great, very well-written. The humor is subtle; the movie is more funny in how people react to statements people say, or the way that Mike Showalter says certain things ("I had a dream that Bradley was at the bar!") and how terribly geeky he is ("Let me just put my driving cap on."). Peter Dinklage as the wedding coordinator is very funny. I haven't seen many of his movies, aside from the Station Agent, and it's nice to see him in a non-dramatic role. He gets lost in Brooklyn and freaks out slightly. Ohh, people from Manhattan are amusing. Justin Theroux, David Wain, and Paul Rudd are all wonderful as usual.I should also mention that Tim Orr did the cinematography, and his art direction is usually fantastic (e.g., All The Real Girls).I wish I'd known about this movie before hand. I would have seen it in the theatre. I really enjoyed it. It's tender and subtle, and pretty funny. I look forward to seeing more of Showalter's movies, which I hope he continues to make.

BAXTER: (bax'-ter) n. A compromise to "true love." The epitome of "settling." Shorthand for a bachelor with lots of exes, who's kind of a loser.Quote from the movie, The Baxter.A little indie film that is on the dry side. Just like Elliot Sherman. He is a sweet, nice guy. The kind of guy who is a safe, boring type. Never ventures out of his safe little world. Even thou he ends up alone.(because the other guy always gets his girl) He some how always has faith that maybe he will get lucky next time.This story is about the guy that always seems to loose the girl. This is the story about them. Someone that doesn't always live happy ever after. But in some ways have learn to live with it. I guess the closes to this type of movie would be the 40 year Old Virgin. (Side note: Paul Rudd is in both movies) But not raunchy. I think I only noted two or three cuss words in the whole movie.It is a silly little film. Not always funny. But worth checking out just the same. Donna A.