The Baltimorons (2025)

In this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael take a deep dive into Jay Duplass’s The Baltimorons, an unconventional indie holiday romance co-written by Duplass and Michael Strassner, and starring Strassner alongside Liz Larsen. Through the show’s signature voice note conversation format, the hosts unpack a film that begins in surprisingly dark territory. Cliff is a self-involved improv comedian whose story opens with a suicide attempt before the holidays. After breaking a tooth on Christmas Eve, he finds himself in the office of Didi, a grounded and world-weary dentist, beginning an increasingly chaotic odd-couple journey through Baltimore. Andy and Michael debate whether The Baltimorons really captures the magic of a Christmas movie at all. Is this a warm, alternative addition to the festive canon, or does its melancholy, dysfunctional view of the holidays place it closer to the world of anti-Christmas movies such as Christmas, Again? The biggest disagreement comes with the romance itself. The hosts clash over Cliff’s deliberately unlikable and uncharismatic qualities and whether the film successfully subverts the traditional romantic comedy by pairing a flawed man-child with an older woman. Is their relationship a refreshing rejection of the polished people who usually populate the genre, or does the lack of conventional romantic chemistry expose problems with the writing and the plausibility of their connection? The conversation also expands into the wider career of the Duplass brothers. Andy and Michael look at Jay Duplass’s work away from his usual collaboration with Mark Duplass and consider how his solo directing and writing instincts compare with the films the brothers created together. Ultimately, The Baltimorons gives the hosts plenty to disagree about. From its dark opening and unusual central relationship to its awkward comedy and alternative take on Christmas romance, this is a film that deliberately refuses to give audiences the comfortable characters and familiar emotional beats they might expect from the genre. Join Andy and Michael for a deep dive into rom-com subversion, Christmas melancholy, difficult protagonists, unlikely attraction, and whether The Baltimorons earns its unconventional romance. Enjoying the conversation? Support Cinema Callback on Patreon for bonus content, exclusive extras, and to help us continue making in depth film discussions through our unique voice note format. Patreon: Cinema Callback on Patreon