Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- good natured
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics generally found the film good-natured and distinctive in premise but too predictable and short on sustained laughs.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elliot Sherman is an insecure, nerdy groom whose position as the less glamorous partner drives the film's romantic perspective.
The story unfolds during the two weeks before Elliot's wedding, making the approaching ceremony a constant source of pressure.
Elliot, Caroline, and Bradley are caught in a deliberately uncomfortable triangle shaped by screwball-style complications.
The plot is explicitly presented in the style of Howard Hawks comedy and draws on screwball conventions.
Films like The Baxter, and why
The Wedding Planner
romantic comedy built around an unconventional, self-effacing protagonist and wedding-related romantic confusion
The Philadelphia Story
screwball romantic entanglements, brisk comic misunderstandings, and a protagonist caught between competing relationships
Kissing Jessica Stein
independent romantic comedy with awkward social dynamics, neurotic characters, and an alternative to conventional rom-com heroes
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Showalter
- Release Date
- 2005-08-26
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (52)
Cast
- Michael Showalter
- Elizabeth Banks
- Michelle Williams
- Justin Theroux
- Zak Orth
- Michael Ian Black
- Catherine Lloyd Burns
- Peter Dinklage
- Paul Rudd
- Katharine Powell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo
- Rent
- Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Baxter about?
- A socially awkward groom confronts romantic doubt and wedding-week chaos when his seemingly secure relationship is tested by an old attraction and a charismatic rival.
- What is The Baxter like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Baxter as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Baxter violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Baxter.
- What did critics think of The Baxter?
- Critics generally found the film good-natured and distinctive in premise but too predictable and short on sustained laughs.
- Which films are like The Baxter?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wedding Planner, The Philadelphia Story, and Kissing Jessica Stein.
- How long is The Baxter?
- The Baxter runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Baxter?
- In United States, The Baxter streams on Philo.
