The Baxter (2005)

33% of critics liked it
(73 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(7,126 ratings)

A man with a "doormat" personality tries standing up for himself for a change in this comedy. Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman (Michael Showalter) is what he calls a "Baxter": the kind of calm, unexciting fellow who "wears sock garters" and "enjoys raking leaves." Loved by bosses and… More A man with a "doormat" personality tries standing up for himself for a change in this comedy. Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman (Michael Showalter) 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 -- he's safe and pleasant, but not very interesting, so as a consequence he hasn't had much luck with long-term relationships, and more than one woman has abandoned him for someone more exciting. Elliot believes his luck has finally changed for the better when he becomes engaged to Caroline Swann (Elizabeth Banks), a smart and attractive editor at a successful magazine. However, a few weeks before the wedding, who should come back into Caroline's life but Bradley Lake (Justin Theroux), her high school sweetheart and, according to many, the great love of her life. Bradley quickly makes it clear that he wants to win Caroline back, and generally in such circumstances Elliot would politely step aside, but just this once Elliot decides to fight for the woman he loves. Elliot gains an unexpected champion in Cecil Mills (Michelle Williams), a frumpy but adorable temp employee at his office who encourages Elliot to develop a take-charge attitude, though the results aren't quite what he expects. The Baxter was written and directed by Michael Showalter, who also plays Elliot; Showalter was a member of the sketch comedy troupe the State, and also works with the comedy performance trio Stella, whose other members, Michael Ian Black and David Wain, also appear in the movie. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Michael Showalter
Written By: Michael Showalter
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Aug 26, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Dec 13, 2005
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
The performers are fresh and offbeat, with the diminutive Peter Dinklage (Elf, The Station Agent) especially funny as a gay wedding planner named Benson Hedges.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Showalter tackles his mission with energy and an upbeat attitude that makes him a winner as a lovable loser.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Only when Williams is around does the movie seem human, true, and funny: Even in her slapstick there's pain. She's almost too good: It's not until she's left a scene that you realize the movie isn't working.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
There are enough laughs that those who enjoyed The 40-Year-Old Virgin might want to take The Baxter for a whirl.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Showalter all-too-slavishly follows the lock-step school of formula romance.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Mildly cute while thoroughly forgettable, the chief achievement of The Baxter is it serves to remind viewers how thoroughly adorable Michelle Williams can be, even in something this inconsequential.
Kam Williams, Mount Desert Islander
A droll romantic comedy that relies on a self-deprecating brand of humor which must be a bit of an acquired taste. The film's utter predictably sinks this exercise in obviousms, making its few funny moments not worth waiting for.
Kam Williams, Upstage Magazine
A droll romantic comedy that relies on a self-deprecating brand of humor which must be a bit of an acquired taste. The film's utter predictably sinks this exercise in obviousms, making its few funny moments not worth waiting for.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Showalter cria um filme exatamente como seu protagonista: desajeitadamente simpático e divertido.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
What comes to mind are TV sitcom pilots full of strain, and the forlornly perky mechanisms of old Day & Hudson comedies.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Clearly the filmmakers are trying to make The Baxter look old-fashioned. But there's a modern smugness and superiority that undermines that attempt.
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
It doesn't take much imagination to guess who will end up with whom, but The Baxter is agreeably silly and has lots of simple charm.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Every romantic-comedy cliché gets played out, but merely re-enacting those clichés in an arch tone isn't funny enough.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
The structure is a miscalculation by Showalter, who inexplicably drives his audience through the exact type of sappy material he had started off satirizing.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Perhaps it's only just that a movie about a loser should be a loser itself.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Leigh R

CUTE! Peter Dinklage completely stole the movie, as he always does. Michelle Williams is adorable, as she always is. Very cute and offbeat.
Adam M

this low-key comedy invents a culture of upscale WASP nerddom that Showalter gets to act out with the maximum mannerisms; Rudd and Banks are unfortunately diminished, mostly by mediocre dialogue; a major step forward in portraying the ultra-cool romantic rival as shallow and tiresome,… More
this low-key comedy invents a culture of upscale WASP nerddom that Showalter gets to act out with the maximum mannerisms; Rudd and Banks are unfortunately diminished, mostly by mediocre dialogue; a major step forward in portraying the ultra-cool romantic rival as shallow and tiresome, showing how a person can still look pretty lame even after they fulfill a hip-suave-sensitive checklist--more realistic than Bradley Cooper in Wedding Crashers, the long-delayed post-PC-evolution of the Omega Theta Pi psychopaths in Animal House
James A

A really great and innovative way of doing a romantic comedy.
Michael G

One of the most underrated movies ever. If you liked The State you'll definitely like this.
Yinalí R

I found this movie to be realistic, and fictional at the same time, but mostly realistic. The movie is funny, and has black humor, but definitely worth watching.
Sunil J

Pretty bad. Michele Williams and Michael Ian Black are kind are fun to see but other than that, it's brutal and unfunny.
Leo L

A favorite.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Michael Showalter as Elliot Sherman

            Elizabeth Banks as Caroline Swann

            Michelle Williams as Cecil Mills

            Justin Theroux as Bradley Lake

            Zak Orth as Wendall Wimms

            Michael Ian Black as Ed

            Catherine Lloyd Burns as Stella

            Peter Dinklage as Benson Hedges

            Paul Rudd as Dan Abbott

            David Wain as Louis Lewis

            A.D. Miles as Bar Baxter #1

            Joe Lo Truglio as Bar Baxter #2

            Seth Herzog as Bar Baxter #3

            Jonathan Marc Sherman as Deaf Bar Baxter

            Leslie Lyles as Sheila Sherman

            Donna Mitchell as Judy Swann

            Haviland Morris as Kate

            Audrie J. Neenan as Pastor Pritchard

            Marylouise Burke as Delores

            Gabriel Millman as Max

            Sarah Drew as Serena

            Ken Marino as Jack Mechanic

            Jim DeMarse as Leonard Sherman

            Chris Spain as Tanner Bates

            John DeVries as Alan Swann

            Peter Stadlen as Young Elliot

            Abigail Wathen as Kimberly

            Bobby Tisdale as Emcee

            Michael Portnoy as Interpretive Dancer

            Maya Goldsmith as Muffy

            Jenny Maguire as Peg

            Katharine Powell
            
See full cast