STORYLINE: A newly sober man’s Christmas Eve dental emergency leads to an unexpected romance with his older dentist as they explore Baltimore together.  (IMDb) 

    Films that feature the start of a romance wear many hats.  There are the epic (Titanic, 1997) and the dramatic (Before Sunrise, 1995).  Others are period pieces (Pride & Predjuice, 2005) and there are the comedic (When Harry Met Sally, 1989).  Of course there is Casablanca (1942), the one of the greatest love stories ever told.  Now the independent film The Baltimorons, a dramedy, about the start of a romance on Christmas Eve has arrived in theaters.  

   Much like Before Sunrise and it’s two sequels. The Baltinorons follows its central characters over a period of hours, instead of days, weeks, or months.  You get who know who they are, as they get to know each other, exploring the streets of Baltimore.  Since they were  Baltimore locals, it was a behind the scenes of Baltimore instead of the routine tourist sites.

   The comedy was a blend of socially awkward and sweet.  When blended with the drama of the film it created a romance film with a since of realism.

    Releases like Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Keep the Change (2017) and The Wedding Banquet (2025) the landscape is widening slowly for romance film and rom coms.  One of the biggest films to widen the gap for romantic films is the 2016 Oscar winning drama Moonlight.  While the staples of yesteryear are a reliable source of comfort, a fresh perspective is good.  The Baltimorons seems to merge those to mindsets, works for me.

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!