Recxpectations: The Baltimorons

I never got into the mumblecore movies and know Mark Duplass from The League rather than his indie films he made with his brother but I decided to use my Alamo Movie Pass and take in brother Jay’s new film, “The Baltimorons.”

EXPECT: a charmer
This is a film that lives and dies by how you like the main characters. I can see people not connecting with Michael Strassner’s lead character, Cliff and if you don’t, I think you can probably turn the movie off and go on with your day. Liz Larsen gives a winning performance and helped carry the movie for me - I didn’t dislike Cliff but I never really cared about him either way.
This also is a charmer in that it’s a film that makes you smile more than it makes you laugh. Honestly, there isn’t really a single memorable comedy moment. It’s almost a lighthearted drama more than it is a comedy.

DON’T EXPECT: anything groundbreaking
This is a classic indie film. The lead is a newly sober guy who is moving on from his dream (in this case, improv comedy) to live a “normal” life and he unexpectedly meets someone and hijinks/life lessons ensue. It’s also a film in which the victories are minor - if they are even victories at all.

EXPECT: a distraction
This film is a trifle. It’s something that makes you smile for a 100 minutes and then you probably won’t think about it again. It touches on some real issues but doesn’t really dig into any of them. Because of this, I wouldn’t call it a character piece. It’s a misadventure more than anything.

Currently, I have this ranked as my #19 movie of the year, just below “Pools”, which was another movie about a crazy evening - in that case, it’s college kids letting loose and finding themselves - but I connected a bit more with that one.

WARNING: The movie opens with a suicide attempt. I actually know someone who basically had what happened in the opening scene happen to him so that started me off in an awkward place but if you’re triggered by that, you should go in prepared.