“The Baltimorons” is what indie filmmaking is all about.
Or, to be more accurate, what it should be all about.
The romance follows a suicidal improv comic bonding with a distracted divorcee. The leads aren’t traditionally attractive, the comic beats arrive with sizable baggage, and there’s no wacky set piece to anchor the story.
What’s left? An endearing tale told with humor, heart and boundless empathy. More, please.
Michael Strassner plays Cliff, a former improv comic trying to make sense of his life. The film opens with his suicide attempt going comically wrong, but Cliff’s plucky spirit belies that state of mind.
He seems happy in his current relationship, but a clumsy moment finds him scrambling for a dentist on Christmas Eve.
Lousy timing.
Luckily, one nearby dentist is still in town and is willing to treat him. That’s Didi (Liz Larsen), who opens her office long enough to deal with Cliff’s crisis. It’s the start of an unusual 24 hours for the unlikely duo, one filled with towed cars, unctuous exes and a chance to reconnect with Cliff’s improv days.
Cliff isn’t looking to escape a troubled relationship. His fiancée Brittany (Olivia Luccardi) seems like a kind person, and she’s certainly patient with his sobriety. He hasn’t had a drink in six months, and Brittany knows how precarious his sober state remains.
She even tracks his phone to make sure he doesn’t stray. Still, there’s something about the older, wiser Didi that gets Cliff’s attention.
Writer-director Jay Duplass, co-writer and star Michael Strassner, and star Liz Larsen sat down to discuss their refreshing holiday rom-com ‘The Baltimorons.’ While Duplass gets real about his “mumblecore” roots and returning to the director’s chair, Strassner opens up about his… pic.twitter.com/ZPjxvUQHUO
— Movieweb (@movieweb) September 3, 2025
Strassner, who cowrote “The Baltimorons” with director Jay Duplass, plays Cliff like the most lovable cousin at your family reunion. The actor still lets his anguish rise to the surface, whether it’s his irrational fear of needles or worries he’ll relapse if he hits an improv stage again.
Didi seems emotionally healthy, but she’s grappling with an ex-husband who left her for a younger, ditzy bride.
The two seem like an oil and water combination until their characters begin to click. She needs his upbeat, unpredictable spirit, while he’s enamored with her grounded approach to life.
He longs for normalcy. She’s suffocated by it.
The comical scenes flow organically, although a long sequence involving a towed car should have been trimmed. Still, watching these two souls navigate the holiday and their respective wounds is engaging, even uplifting.
FAST FACT: The crew behind “The Baltimorons” shot around the greater Baltimore area in 2023, including scenes set under the Francis Scott Key bridge before its March 2024 collapse.
“The Baltimorons” refuses to demonize Brittany or insist this new love connection is anything but imperfect. That makes what happens on this curious night all the more remarkable.
Duplass, a veteran indie talent, turns Baltimore into an unlikely character in the story. His camera captures the city’s charm, with a nod to the NFL’s Ravens for good measure. There’s not a drop of artifice to be found.
The film’s best moment comes via an improv sequence. The main characters open up in ways that cement their bond, but it’s almost too painful to process, both for them and us.
It’s hard to imagine that arc during their initial meeting, but “The Baltimorons” has the integrity and patience to lead us to that magical moment.
HiT or Miss: “The Baltimorons” is a low-key charmer, a movie romance that’s satisfying and smart.
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