The Baltimorons (2025)

Jack and I really liked this rom-com about a hapless 30-something comedian and a disillusioned 50-something dentist hanging out on Christmas eve. Michael Strassner stars as Cliff and Liz Larsen as Didi. This is Jay Duplass' first time directing solo, as he usually shares the job with his brother Mark (the latter does co-produce here), and Jay co-wrote the script with Strassner. You'll find out the meaning of the title around the middle of the story. I'm familiar with only a few Baltimore locations, some of which are shown, but I'm sure there are many.

Jordan Seigel's sprightly and sweet soundtrack can be streamed on Apple Music.

There are only three trivia items and they're all good so I'll list them: the opening scene is based on a true event in Strassner's life, the team spent only $45 on permits, despite shooting exclusively in Baltimore, and they shot a sequence (without a permit?) during a yearly Christmas lighting event called Miracle on 34th Street.

Jay Duplass was last blogged for co-writing Outside In, which also features a relationship with an age gap. Strassner has dozens of acting credits and this is his feature screenwriting debut. Larsen, too, is no stranger to acting, but is new to me, as is Siegel, after a handful of credits.

Rotten Tomatoes's critics are clever, with a 94% average, while its audiences slightly less so at 84. We rented it on October 10, 2025. It will make a nice Christmas movie for adults, not because it's dirty, but because kids would be bored.