TaryBiggBall
It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.
Ava-Grace Willis
Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Jakoba
True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.
Cheryl
A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.
Sheldogg23
This has always been one of my favorites from the mid-1990s time period. I think when the film was marketed, it was playing on the growing popularity of Ross from Friends as opposed to David Schwimmer in what is ultimately a glorified indie flic, with a Gwyneth Paltrow that reminds you of why she is a bona-fide star.The performances ring true, and sure, there are problems, but Barbara Hershey once again proves that she's one of the most under-rated actresses of her generation. It's incredibly obvious throughout the film that the photography was guided by the masterful Robert Elswit, showing early signs of the brilliance that has made him an Oscar winner, and the additional eyes of Paul Thomas Anderson.They incredibly mis-marketed this film, and thus there was a "Friends" audience running to the theatre to see something that was far too dark for liking. I stick The Pallbearer into my category of films that includes both Beautiful Girls and The Myth of Fingerprints. I wouldn't say it's superior to these examples of character driven, "it's time to make some life decisions" comedies, but it's certainly worth watching and enjoying.
Gordon-11
This film is about a college graduate whose life is a mess. She gets a surprise invitation to a funeral and met 2 women who would become important in his life.David Schwimmer's character was not developed in a way to make him likable. He seemed sad and radiated negative energy throughout. The film would be so much better if his character was more positive. After all, people who goes to see a movie, especially a romantic comedy, wants to feel good.Gwyneth Paltrow, on the other hand, was developed to be a likable, ordinary girl. however, I felt that she was underused in this film. Well, this may be because she was yet to be famous when this film was made. Ms Abernathy, played by Barbara Hershey, was very well portrayed. I don't recall seeing her before. Her face, especially her eyes, reminded me of Jessica Lange.The story was not so likable, and the name of the film might put people off watching it. If it had another title and a more uplifting script, this could have been a great film.
Howlin Wolf
... You can't exactly shove her out of the way, because she's old; and if you were being charitable you might say that the ponderous gait she ambles along with isn't really her fault. Nevertheless, in these circumstances it's often difficult not to become irritated when you find yourself dragging your heels in her wake. So it is with "The Pallbearer", an attempt to do something 'different' with a romantic comedy that in this way is chiefly hamstrung because the venue is all wrong; sort of like showing off your 'breakdancing' skills at a grandparent's funeral.To further extend the metaphor (perhaps unwisely!); like the old lady, one starts to feel with the set-up of the film that its demise cannot be far away. Sure enough, this particular 'death' is agonizingly protracted, slowly chipping away at our reserves of empathy in tiny little increments, as depressingly we come to the realisation that the proceedings are only headed in one direction: Downhill. Its laboured attempts at 'humour' can be seen coming a mile off - again, not unlike the grim inevitability of death!Returning once again to the image of 'dragging heels', the main character, Tom, is shown to ceaselessly repeat this action throughout his life. If there are indeed degrees of 'pathetic', then this sap is possibly a good few notches ahead of Schwimmer's other - more famous - role. To find oneself in the awkward position of having to align audience sympathies with a character even MORE 'clueless' than Ross is certainly a tough ask even for as 'able' a comic performer as Schwimmer, but I guess he can find fault with himself for signing on to some seriously 'echoing' situations in the first place.How will he ever escape his most famous portrayal if he's picking scripts where the characters could almost be 'interchangeable', even if the situations aren't? A man with a longstanding high-school crush on someone he hasn't seen for years. Sound familiar... ? Paltrow is nothing else if not bland in her 'Rachel' role, but all of this going over old ground would perhaps be forgivable if the noticeable DIFFERENCES present weren't so incongruous as well. Unfortunately, the romantic element is so well-worn it's threadbare, and the 'backdrop' is so inappropriate that it seems the best way to describe the resultant film is as something of a 'stiff'... ! 2/10.
pips55
Upon first viewing of this film at release I wasn't much impressed, but upon a recent second viewing (and because I liked it so much a third viewing as well) I have decided that this film is not only well written and well acted (despite what characters the actors may have played before, it works) it deserves to be in my personal top ten. Gwyneth Paltrow plays a 24 year old in search for identity, and it may just be my generation's quintessential "I've had a job for a few years and hate it" "I've just graduated and can't find a job" "Everyone I know is still living with their parents" "Dealing with best friends getting married" movie. Sure, it's heartwarming, but that doesn't take away from wonderfully crafted scenes with perfect poignancy and a good soundtrack to boot. There are also good performances by Toni Collette, Michael Vartan and Michael Rapaport. I highly reccommend seeing this film.
