Image courtesy of Jon Bregel.
What makes a great holiday movie?
There are, of course, the unimpeachable classics: “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” “Die Hard” (yes). The fun ones: “Elf,” “Home Alone,” “The Grinch.”
But over the last 10 years or so, films like “Tangerine” and “The Holdovers” have approached the genre with less focus on the holiday itself but rather more so on human connection in a cultural moment when it feels like everyone else has a family.
“The Baltimorons,” written and directed by Jay Duplass of indie powerhouse duo the Duplass Brothers (best known for producing Sean Baker’s “Tangerine” and the microbudget horror “Creep”), steps into that canon of contemporary holiday movies with heart, tracing the path of two strangers finding themselves with each other’s help on a quiet Christmas Eve in Baltimore.
The leads of this movie—relative unknowns Michael Strassner and Liz Larsen—give very down-to-earth performances. Watching their personalities progress and unwind as they become truer to themselves and comfortable around each other is a privilege.
Strassner delivers an incredibly natural performance as Cliff Cashen, a newly sober and engaged ex-improv comic, but Larsen especially shines as Didi, a jaded middle-aged divorcee dentist who is still figuring out what being cared about looks like. The entire film hinges on the co-leads’ real human chemistry, and once they connect, it isn’t in doubt for a moment. You know these people—and not just because you live 90 minutes from the Inner Harbor.
The film comes to its crux with a masterfully directed scene set onstage at an improv comedy pop-up at a body shop, where both Strassner and Larsen get to really play off each other and develop their understanding of their characters in relation to one another. It’s an incredibly satisfying scene of character work as Cliff and Didi start and end the scene in entirely different places.
“The Baltimorons” is a true dramedy. It’s both very earnest in the topics it broaches, including alcoholism, divorce, infidelity and suicide, and very funny, mostly due to the performance of Strassner, who delivers jokes and lines naturally off the cuff. I could have been convinced they were improvised on the spot, which is equally a credit to the dialogue-writing skills and directing ability of Duplass.
It would be easy for this movie to end up a tonal nightmare, but the heavier things in it never overpower the genuine humor and earnest relationships between its characters. There is true humanity to be found in this graceful juxtaposition.
“The Baltimorons” opens at Midtown Cinema in September.
Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com. Gabriel Brown serves as assistant manager at Midtown Cinema.
September Events
At Midtown Cinema
First Run Films
“The Roses”
“Caught Stealing”
“Ne Zha 2”
“Twinless”
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale”
“Baltimorons”
“History of Sound”
“Big Bold Beautiful Journey”
“One Battle After Another”
Open Mic Night
Tuesday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
Trivia Night
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m.
Special Double Feature
with Greg Sestero in Person
“Big Shark” (2023)/“The Room” (2003)
Friday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
“The Secret of NIMH” (1982)
Saturday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m.
National Theatre Live
“Dr. Strangelove” (1964), Sept. 7, 5 p.m.
“Fleabag” (2019), Sept. 14, 5 p.m.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” (2015), Sept. 21, 5 p.m.
“Inter Alia” (2024), Sept. 28, 5 p.m.
Down in Front! Comedy Riffing
“Death Race 2000” (1975)
Friday, Sept. 12, 9:30 p.m.
Friends of Midtown Outdoor Film Series
“Black Panther” (2018)
Saturday, Sept. 13, Dusk
Sunday Docs
“Undefeated” (2012)
Sunday, Sept. 14, 12 p.m.
3rd in the Burg Movie Night
“Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” (1997)
Friday, Sept. 19, 9:30 p.m.
Cinemaaaah! Series
“Night of the Living Dead” (1968)
Friday, Sept. 26, 9:30 p.m.
“Poltergeist” (1982)
Saturday, Sept. 27, 9:30 p.m.
“Alien” (1979)
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.
“Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
