ROMANCE WITHOUT THE RAUNCH.Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer IN ``THE BAXTER,'' Michael Showalter Michael Showalter (born June 17, 1970) is an American actor, writer, and director. He is one-third of the sketch comedy trio Stella. Showalter first came to recognition as a cast member on MTV's The State which aired from 1993 to 1995. plays a nice guy who is preordained pre·or·dain tr.v. pre·or·dained, pre·or·dain·ing, pre·or·dains To appoint, decree, or ordain in advance; foreordain. pre never to win the pretty girl. Now, because this movie actually revolves around said character, it stands to reason that our luckless hero - deemed a ``Baxter'' - may finally end up with the prize. Or at least with a slightly less pretty girl historically preordained never to end up with the hunk: a Baxter-ette, if you will. OK, so suspense-laden ``The Baxter'' most certainly is not. But it contains a wry, throwback throwback see atavism. charm and the confidence of a filmmaker (Showalter, also the film's screenwriter) who goes for - and gets - exactly what he's after and plucks some canny strings along the way. The man clearly loves his Baxters and isn't afraid to toss a 1940s-style comedy in among ``Wedding Crashers'' and ``The 40-Year-Old Virgin.'' With no modern-day Jimmy Stewart around to embody the Baxter, Showalter takes the mantle himself. His Elliot Sherwood is a Brooklyn-dwelling, Breton-wearing accountant - a safe but not particularly exciting choice for considerably hotter Caroline Swann Caroline Swann (née Potts) is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She is played by Sarah Moyle. About Caroline Caroline is the sister of Laurel Thomas, the wife of Emmerdale's vicar Ashley Thomas. (Elizabeth Banks Elizabeth Banks (born February 10, 1974) is an American actress. Early life Banks was born Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As a young child, she was a contestant on the Nickelodeon game show Finders Keepers. ). The two make for a cute and cuddly pair, altar bound, until Caroline's bad-boy high-school flame, Bradley (Justin Theroux Justin Theroux (born August 10, 1971) is an American actor and screenwriter. Biography Early life Theroux was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Phyllis, a journalist and author, and Eugene Theroux, a corporate lawyer. ), reappears carrying not-so-honorable intentions. As Elliot frets and Caroline pooh-poohs his fears, our hero finds an unlikely confidante con·fi·dante n. 1. A woman to whom secrets or private matters are disclosed. 2. A woman character in a drama or fiction, such as a trusted friend or servant, who serves as a device for revealing the inner thoughts or intentions in his new temp, Cecil Mills (Michelle Williams Michelle Williams may refer to an actress or a singer born in 1980:
The humor is usually gentle, as though the characters themselves are surprised at even the suggestion of raunch. Showalter and Williams (wearing an unflattering brown wig) actually get some legitimate comic mileage out of an ``Oh my God! Don't look under the covers!'' scenario. Williams, a former ``Dawson's Creek'' beauty, scores as the unlikely ingenue in·gé·nue also in·ge·nue n. 1. A naive, innocent girl or young woman. 2. a. The role of an ingénue in a dramatic production. b. An actress playing such a role. . Banks (``Seabiscuit'' the ``Spider-Man'' films) is appropriately fickle, and Showalter - nerdy, out of step and largely unaware of his foibles - is the glue that binds the whole enterprise together. Cecil and Bradley's characters, by the way, have significant others (played by Paul Rudd and Katharine Powell) who end up Baxter-ized by the Elliot-Caroline-Bradley-Cecil mixings. So we can rest easy knowing a new generation of romantic comedy also-rans can rise to prominence. Should Showalter attempt a sequel, it will undoubtedly carry the title ``The Baxter's Revenge.'' Evan Henerson, (818) 713-3651 evan.henerson(at)dailynews.com THE BAXTER - Three stars (PG-13: language, sexual humor, drug references) Starring: Michael Showalter, Elizabeth Banks, Michelle Williams. Director: Michael Showalter. Running time: 1 hr. 31 min. Playing: Laemmle Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, Laemmle Monica in Santa Monica, Laemmle One Colorado in Pasadena, Edwards University Town Center in Irvine. In a nutshell: When losers in love actually win. A cute idea, gently executed. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Michael Showalter plays a lifelong loser who ends up the winner in ``The Baxter.'' |
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