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"Baltimorons" is so convincing, so nuanced, so "gritty" that some people might night think it's a Romantic Comedy but it has all the elements: an improbable couple starts as love-hate; they bicker; have hi-jinks, break up and bond. This film is a little dark for the genre but that's hardly new ground.

The two protagonists are damaged, lovable, complex, irritating. Importantly, I found myself completely "getting" them as a couple, as the movie progressed. And this was no easy task -- they are a very bad fit for each other.

I wish movies would cast more genuine beauties like Liz Larsen. And by "genuine" I mean the people who are attractive in the real world, not Hollywood. I find it irritating when a Hollywood movie has a "homely girl" who, in the real world, was the most beautiful girl at their high school. Liz Larsen is real-world attractive -- which is not a qualified compliment. It's higher standard, in my opinion.

Similarly, Michael Strassner is real-world charming. He's not George Clooney, he's the funniest guy in your office. And he is genuinely funny -- often as a coping or self-defense tool. I found myself laughing out-loud (although I was sometimes the only one in the theater.) The gritty feel of the movie lets the humor catch you off-guard but that's another real-life aspect of the move. Like laughing in the hospital.

The characters' internal damage and dysfunction are also real-world stuff -- addiction, woundedness, cynicism, guardedness, personal chaos, pettiness. If you don't have these, you know somebody who does. When the characters build a functional relationship with these very familiar challenges, I found it tremendously hopeful.

The supporting characters are all good, even though they are given little runway for it. Olivia Luccardi does a good "I'm angry and done but I still love you." role. DiDi's ex-husband and new wife (names?) were a stand-out. They play "Creeps but not evil." well. In lesser movies, you wonder, "What did she ever see in him?" Not this movie.

Lastly, I've never been to Baltimore but the movie seems authentic -- Jonathan Bregel shoots it as both a mess and beautiful. I could totally imagine why people make good lives there, despite it's reputation.

If I had any criticism, it's the plot, which is mostly, "This happened. Then that happened and then another thing..." I would have preferred more structure. I suspect this was intentional -- improv is a major theme and the plot is a series of situations that the characters react to... "Yes. And..."

If you watch movies for escapism, don't let my "it's real world" discourage you. With "The Baltimorons" you escape into other people's real world which is funny, beautiful and hopeful.

This is a near perfect indie movie.

The writing and acting was so good. The characters were really well conceived and developed. The plot was creative and not very derivative (except hasn't every movie been made? Elements of this movie have been done before but not like this.) I saw hardly any of plot turns coming. It's like the opposite of a Hallmark movie, that way.

Although I loved the plot - its the personalities that drive the movie, like any good indie movie. I won't name their "issues" since that would be a spoiler but it's things I've not seen a movie deal with before, especially not in this combination. It could be a really heavy movie but it's also laugh outloud. The audience in the theater laughed often but it's not jokes or slapstick -- it's "situational comedy" in the literal sense of that term.

The two main protagonists were excellent actors and completely believable, especially since one of them does things that push the envelope of credibility. Aisling Franciosi is a stand-out in her supporting role. She plays a "straight man" to the protagonists' dysfunction but she is still quirky and not boring. Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) is the only actor I recognized but her acting skills were a little wasted. She didn't get much screen time and her character mostly served one purpose in the plot.

If I had one criticism, it's that it seems very low budget. It's not a "one room movie" but pretty close. It could have benefited with some more visually diverse locations. But this is a very minor issue.

Lastly, the the movie avoids a neat ending but is not irritatingly nebulous, either. I think I know the resolution but it leaves room for interpretation.

It seemed like a crowd pleaser but I actually got bored about half way though -- not good, for an action film. It did pick up in the end. I laughed in a few places but it wasn't very funny either.

The premise is like "Anora" -- a tortured protagonist who gets sucked into the world of some really bad but colorful characters. But Austin Butler acting just didn't convince me to care as much as Mikey Madison did. As for acting, Regina King was the stand-out. Zoe Kravitz was compelling but they didn't let her character develop.

Late 90's New York was an interesting setting, visually. You see a lot of 70s New York films because it's such a cool vibe and this is similar.

Don't get me wrong -- it's a good movie. You could do worse. Like a solid base hit.