As a native Baltimorean, it seemed only fitting that I (Mainstream Chick) check this one out, even if it does skew arty. I liken it to a Hallmark Christmas movie for the indie crowd– some romance, some comedy, some drama, and a mellow vibe that drifts from sad and melancholy to tender and hopeful.
The film stars Baltimorean Michael Strassner as Cliff, a newly sober improv comedian who’s supposed to be spending Christmas Eve with his fiance and her family. But a cracked tooth throws a wrench in those plans as Cliff goes in search of a dentist who can tend to his dental emergency. He finds his odontic savior in Didi (Liz Larsen), a no-nonsense dentist whose Christmas Eve plans are also on the verge of imploding. Together, they end up on an hours-long adventure across Baltimore, facing some of their greatest fears and lifting each other out of their respective funks.
The film brings a certain charm to Charm City, with references that the hometown crowd will surely embrace– Ravens fans dishing about Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco, a dig at Dundalk, Christmas lights in Hampden, hon! And it’s nice to see the Baltimore harbor portrayed as a shelter for boats rather than a crime scene ala The Wire or Homicide: Life on the Street.
As for the titular term ‘Baltimoron’– it doesn’t really sting when uttered by Baltimoreans (Strassner co-wrote the script with the film’s director Jay Duplass), or when used in the context of improv. Yes, and…? (IYKYK)
Strassner and Larsen share a sweet and genuine chemistry that will have you instantly dismissing the age gap and rooting for their characters well beyond the closing scenes. Does the film need to be seen on the big screen? Probably not– unless you’re from/in Baltimore. But it’s certainly worth renting or streaming if that’s an option when the winter holiday season rolls around.
The Baltimorons opens in NY September 5 and expands nationally beginning September 12.