Here’s your early Xmas present: an endearing indie comedy with a 90s vibe, this is the best rom-com of the year. Newcomer Michael Strassner (who also wrote the screenplay) plays Chris, a genial but somewhat aimless stand up comedian whose career has stalled. It’s the afternoon of December 24 and a dental emergency throws off his plans. Divorced dentist Didi (Liz Larson) agrees to fix him up, but then finds there’s no getting rid of him — especially when he realizes his car has been towed.
Director Jay Duplass lovingly grounds the movie in blue collar Baltimore (hence the unfortunate title) and is rewarded with two charming, funny, truthful performances from the un-star like Strassner and Larson. You will be rooting for them.
The feel-good movie of 2025 has arrived.
Kristy Pushko, Mashable
It’s an incredibly funny, genuinely moving character study that’s not explicitly “about” anything but these two lovely people.
Brian Tallerico, rogerebert.com
One of the year’s best comedies, and in its own way, a new Christmas classic.
Matthew Jackson, AV Club
Jay Duplass
Michael Strassner, Liz Larson, Olivia Luccardi, Chris Strassner
USA
2025
English
Book Tickets
Friday December 05
Sunday December 07
Monday December 08
Tuesday December 09
Wednesday December 10
Thursday December 11
Sunday December 14
First Look Fridays: $10 Tickets
Enjoy $10 tickets at this film’s first Friday matinee screening.
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Executive Producer
Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, Mark Duplass, Shuli Harel
Producer
David Bonnett Jr., Michael Strassner, Drew Langer
Screenwriter
Jay Duplass, Michael Strassner
Cinematography
Jon Bregel
Editor
Jay Deuby
Original Music
Jordan Seigel
Production Design
Jack Bell
Also Playing
The Colour of Pomegranates + The House Is Black
This month's Pantheon screening is a double-bill, Sergei Parajanov's extraordinary evocation of the life and work of C18th Armenian poet Sayat Nova, and, The House is Black (22 min), the only film directed by the great Iranian poet Forugh Farrokhzad.
Left-Handed Girl
Co-written and edited by Sean Baker (Anora), Shi-Ching Tsou's heartwarming solo feature debut follows a single mom in Taipei who is too consumed with her noodle stand to keep tabs on her five-year-old daughter's burgeoning shoplifting habit.
The Librarians
Dispatches from the front line of America's culture wars (and ours too): librarians speak out about the war against ideas, history, freedom of expression and sexual identity, a campaign in which an open mind is the ultimate enemy.
Dawn Pemberton Sings Aretha + Amazing Grace Film Screening
These dates are going to knock your socks off: one of the all-time great concert films, Aretha Franklin performing at the New Bethel Baptist Church in 1972, and Canada's own Queen of Soul, Dawn Pemberton, performing live in Aretha's honour.