Overrated

Memorable, crazy movie

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Does for the romantic comedy what "Wet Hot American Summer" did for the summer camp movie.You know how in romantic comedies there's always the guy standing next to the girl as her true love makes a dramatic speech and whisks her away, that poor s...(read more)ad sap, is what is called a Baxter.Elliot Sherman has always lost girls in this manner, and he'a all set to get married until the viscous cycle begins anew with the return of his fiancés long time old flame Bradley. Elliot then does his best to avoid falling into Baxterdom, and seeks advice from Michelle Williams, a quirky temp, which only complicates things.The absurdity is toned down a lot here from the "Wet Hot" days, but all of the actors(many from the previous film, Micheal Ian Black, Paul Rudd, etc), all give great comedic performances. The Baxter at it's heart is a parody, but it's one with a unique one with some heart, similar to recent break-up comedy success "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", but more cute this time around than crude.

The Baxter is really a humorously written and acted film. It quite cannily portrays the passivity and reactionary mindset through the main character Elliot Sherman, a proud CPA. Is being a Baxter such a bad trait after all? His contrasting counterpart would be Bradley Lake, (Justin Theroux) a world traveler, who avidly gets in touch with his feminine and masculine nature, when it comes to developing a love relationship. He weeps tears, loves a great hamburger and beer, and dancing too. These two men's, two women's, and their friends exaggerated characters, are authentic humor, reminding us of the power of film, in comparison to the novel. It is a fabulous example of cinematic purpose. Is Bradley in love with ex- Caroline (Elizabeth Banks), Elliot's fiancée, or is he in love with only giving and receiving intimate love? Granted, it's an important facet to the relationship, but it's not enough in and of itself, to maintain a marriage. It is too bad that Cecil Mills, (Michelle Williams) Elliot's temp is always his second choice. In the last scene, she is wearing red, symbolic to second place. Does this film end with her as only a "Baxterette"? Watch the film and decide for yourself. Still, it's a guarantee that you'll find some good laughs from these silly and quirky personalities, who remind us that sometimes we can never be absolutely confident about the love bonds that we make. To error is human – and at least we and they can do a good job about making some humor of it, because in the end, these characters are likely serious about the sentiment, wanting to be happy in love.

Baxters, as it's explained in the movie, are those bachelors who get dumped before the alter. That's what happened to Elliot, a nerdy but benevolent accountant. He tells us the story about meeting the girl he was going to marry and how her former boyfriend Bradley (a good looking lad, the very opposite of Elliot) comes again into her life. She is getting cold towards Elliot but she's very understanding towards Bradley and his problems. It's obvious she's still hot when it comes to Bradley, and in that situation Elliot is looking even more nerdy. But there's this other girl that seems more honest and sincere than his fiancée, but she has a boyfriend...I would say that the movie has spoiled itself because we know from the start that Elliot is get dumped. And after we see the new secretary-girl, its not difficult for us to guess that they will start a relationship, and that has also affected my vote for this movie. Anyway, it can be recommended to all those who are mainly fond of romantic comedies.

A quirky premise and some delightful performances made this film refreshingly true to its stated goal. Showalter is charmingly awkward and perplexed throughout, as a "baxter," one of the guys who are always left alone at the altar when their brides' true loves return to abduct them. Michelle Williams is exceptional in her role, and Jon DeVries and Peter Dinklage both contribute some great comedic moments. A few sour notes rang out, including Elizabeth Banks' performance as Caroline Swann, which seemed confused and inconsistent. But The Baxter's power is in its non-standard take on old romance stereotypes. The impassioned speeches of each reformed lover to his girl are wonderfully recast from the perspective of the safe, nice guy who is our protagonist here. True love for him is not in being a daredevil or a risk-taker, but simply being himself and taking the opportunity that presents itself. As a new kind of romantic comedy that doesn't necessarily play by the rules, The Baxter succeeds in many ways.