OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

The Baltimorons opens with an uncomfortably silent, unsettling scene featuring Cliff (Michael Strassner) drunkenly stumbling into his attic on his way to an unsuccessful suicide attempt in the aftermath of a botched improvised comedy show. Luckily, Cliff’s makeshift noose snaps before it can take his life, to which Cliff later jokes that it was “the extra holiday weight” that had saved him.  This scene immediately sets the tone for the film’s dark comedy that finds comfort and relief in its humor, even in the most dire of circumstances.

The film then flashes forward 6 months to a steadily sober Cliff who has just proudly received his 6 month sobriety chip.  Cliff is heading to his girlfriend’s family home to celebrate Christmas and has left the bottle behind along with his aspiring comedy career, as the two seem to be permanently intertwined and an unavoidable gateway to each other.  Cliff is portrayed as a lovable goof who means well, but repeatedly finds himself in trouble from a mixture of bad luck and bad decisions.  One of the first strokes of bad luck involves him knocking out a tooth while walking through a doorway which leads to an emergency trip to a dentist on Christmas Eve.  The only dentist who will take his call is an older, divorcee named Didi (Liz Larzen) who is struggling with her own familial struggles during the holidays.  Didi is initially closed off and annoyed by Cliff’s presence, but his charms slowly melt away her natural defense mechanisms and the two form an unlikely bond through mutual emotional support.

The story mirrors an improvised comedy show following the “Yes and” principle of improv to keep the story moving forward in unexpected directions and situations.  Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen craft an electric chemistry and bond between their characters.  On the surface they appear to be completely different people from different backgrounds,but  they are able to find common ground in their shared vulnerabilities and insecurities that serve as the bedrock of their newfound connection.  It is a lot of fun hanging out with these characters throughout the film and you feel a shared connection with them as their feelings for one another grow over the course of the film.

Jay Duplass’ solo directorial debut dramedy expertly balances both heart warming and heart wrenching themes with its sharp yet realistic “slice of life” Baltimorian dialogue and impeccable chemistry between Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen who are genuinely charming together on screen. Jay Duplass continues the established Duplass Brothers trademark infusion of charm, empathy, and dramatic comedy while remaining grounded and relatable in its storytelling.