The Baxter
The Baxter
PG-13 | 26 August 2005 (USA)
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A man with a "doormat" personality tries standing up for himself for a change in this comedy. Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman is what he calls a "Baxter": the kind of calm, unexciting fellow who "wears sock garters" and "enjoys raking leaves." Loved by bosses and parents, Elliot is a perfectly nice guy. And that's his problem.

Reviews
Kattiera Nana

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

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Hellen

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

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Maidgethma

Wonderfully offbeat film!

GarnettTeenage

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

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Gordon-11

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.

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napierslogs

I'll go so far as to say "The Baxter" is a true romantic comedy. It's the type of romance that we want to believe in, and it's very funny.Written by, directed by, and starring Michael Showalter, he's a baxter. He's the type of man that women settle for, or leave, for their more handsome ex. He plays it with such awkwardness and quirky charm that it's impossible not to fall for him, and laugh with him along the way. The movie begins with him meeting two women, Michelle Williams who has the same awkwardness and quirky charm, and the beautiful Elizabeth Banks. He's captivated by Banks' beauty, but immediately wary of her "perfect" ex-boyfriend (Justin Theroux).It's a comedy of exes and trying to hold on to true love, whatever that may be. It's the classic romantic comedy tale, except told from a different angle - the point of view of "The Baxter". He's the hero that we can completely relate to, and not so much feel sorry for, but just laugh and enjoy our time with. The comedy is smart, fresh, and very, very funny. My recommendation is to watch it, and to watch all the way through to the end of the credits - they add another little twist which most romantic comedies aren't self-aware enough to include.

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working98

Showalter does Stella all over again. If you don't know what Stella is, then you needn't concern yourself with this film. It's wasted on you. If you DO love Stella, then this is EXACTLY what you're hoping it is: awkward, wasp-ish and and well... awkward.If the idea of middle-class losers is inherently funny, then The Baxter will be a laugh extravaganza riot with pyrotechnics and flaming strippers. If you have discerning tastes about storytelling, humor, acting or plot, then this "film" will make you wish you had opted for an evening of anything mediocre on CBS instead.Interestingly Showalter gets Michelle Williams, Paul Rudd and Elizabeth Banks to completely waste themselves in this drudgery of white-collar ...well... how often can the word awkward be used in a review? But it's the only thing that applies to the entire ouvre of Showalter's career.Awkward and nebbish account manager Showalter woos Banks and for no reason whatsoever wins her heart, though she's obviously wrong for him as HE (get this!) has too much class for her. So he refuses to see the love in front of him that is in fact the (here it comes again) awkward dork played (rather well, thank you, since she's actually a capable actress) by Michelle Williams.One saving grace of the film is a bit of underwear clad Williams. If SKIN is the best this film has to offer, you might think twice, knowhumsayn? So, let's say obvious, strained, predictable and pointless. Thank you Showtime for rerunning this every 48 hours until I finally watched it in the (vain) hope that you'd eventually STOP! And yes. I know. I'm just TOO uncool to grasp the subtle comic genius of Michael Ian Black in a Speedo. Right. Look. He's funny as hell on VH-1. He has no business doing improv, let alone sketch comedy-cum-feature film experiment.If not for the fact that Showalter is a good drinking buddy to ACTUALLY talented people such as Rudd et.al., this film would never have even been picked up on bargain-bin for Showtime. Let's hope Showalter gets a gig writing for Conan O'Brien or someone so that he can be diluted in future by writers of actual vision, capability and perhaps talent.Ugh.

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ka2006

One star for Michelle Williams. One star for Elizabeth Banks. In that order. Maybe half a star for Theroux (for somehow coming off sleazier than Showalter) and another half for Ian Black (who shows us what got him those Sierra Mist commercials), but I'm not good with fractions so FTS and besides The Baxter gets stripped of at least one full star due to Peter Dinklage's WAY over the top, stereotypical turn as Benson Hedges, the gay, midget wedding planner (he set us back 50 years). Showalter IS a Baxter and he doesn't deserve Cecil. I picked her from the get go and I LOVE Elizabeth Banks. We have to WANT the underdog to win, dude. Actually, Banks didn't seem to have enough to do here. Probably a waste of her talent, although Williams characterization of Cecil is really magnificent. She, probably alone, makes watching this film worthwhile.

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