Mild mannered tax accountant Elliot Sherman 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.
Writing
Showalter's script weaponizes rom-clichés against themselves
Acting
Michelle Williams steals every scene as the chaotic Cecil
Costume
Elliot's sad sweater vests are character development
Director
Michael Showalter
Michael Showalter
Elliot Sherman
Elizabeth Banks
Caroline Swann
Michelle Williams
Cecil Mills
Justin Theroux
Bradley Lake
Zak Orth
Wendall Wimms
Michael Ian Black
Ed
Catherine Lloyd Burns
Stella
Peter Dinklage
Benson Hedges
Paul Rudd
Dan Abbott
Jon DeVries
Alan Swann
Donna Mitchell
Judy Swann
Haviland Morris
Kate Lewis
David Wain
Louis Lewis
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Baxter was shot in 21 days on a $1.5 million budget, with many cast members from The State and Stella comedy troupes doing favors for Showalter.
The film directly references His Girl Friday and Bringing Up Baby, positioning itself as the anti-rom-com for viewers exhausted by genre conventions.
US
