The Baxter (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Showalter

Writer (WGA):

Michael Showalter (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy for anyone who's ever been dumped.

Plot:

In the style of a Howard Hawks comedy, Baxter follows the twists and turns of a young man's life during the two weeks before his wedding. |

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Dartmouth University | Brooklyn | Secretary | Wedding Planner

Cast

Michael Showalter	...	Elliot Sherman
Elizabeth Banks	...	Caroline Swann
Michelle Williams	...	Cecil Mills
Justin Theroux	...	Bradley Lake
Zak Orth	...	Wendall Wimms
Michael Ian Black	...	Ed
Catherine Lloyd Burns	...	Stella
Peter Dinklage	...	Benson Hedges
Paul Rudd	...	Dan Abbott
Katharine Powell	...	Sonya Simmons
Jon DeVries	...	Alan Swann
Donna Mitchell	...	Judy Swann
Haviland Morris	...	Kate Lewis
David Wain	...	Louis Lewis
Jim DeMarse	...	Leonard Sherman

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief sexual humor and some drug references.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

IFC Productions

Trivia:

Michael Ian Black and Catherine Lloyd Burns play a couple named "Ed" and "Stella". These are the names of two television shows starring Michael Ian Black.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the Dartmouth pep rally flashback, Tanner is holding a girl's lacrosse stick.

Quotes:

Caroline Swann: It would take an act of God for Bradley and I to ever cross paths again.
Bradley Lake: [pops his head into frame] Caroline.
Caroline Swann: Bradley!

Movie Connections:

References Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

Soundtrack:

Cocaine Versus Pot and Beer

Good, even though I hate romance..

Okay.. Well, the movie starts out with the end. It shows Elliot getting left at the alter for the more exciting ex. For the most part, I absolutely HATE movies that give it away at the beginning and make me guess it all, like Lake House, and Sixth Sense. However, The big part in this movie was seeing HOW it happened(and what happened afterwards), not what happened.. Which we already know.

Elliot, according to his grandmother, is a Baxter. The man who always gets left for the ex she's really still in love with. The nice guy they settle for because they can't get who they really want, until they can at least. In other words, he gets used.

He falls in love with Caroline Swan, but before they get married, her ex, Bradley is back. Elliot knows what's going to happen, and tries to stop it the best he can.

I don't see why so many complain about the casting for Elliot (Michael Showalter)... He was SUPPOSED to be a bland, nice guy.. Who get pushed around, never really 'noticed', not an extravagant part. Of course the rest of the cast is great. Although Bradley kind of bothers me, only because I knew a guy JUST like him.. Anyway..

The only scene that bothered me was the suicide scene, because he didn't really act. On the other hand, I don't want him to act, at least not a whiny cryie scene like that. Just not like him. However, Davin Wain's part was so great in that, so, oh well..

Annyyywaayy, if you like romance movies, or comedy movies, or Stella.. Pick this up..