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David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Rapaport, Barbara Hershey, Carol Kane ... see more see more... , Toni Collette , Michael Vartan , Jean De Baer , Mark Margolis , Bitty Schram , Matthew Faber , Greg Grunberg , Edoardo Ballerini , Robin Moore

This dark comedy is a clever homage to classic generation gap comedies such as The Graduate (1967), The Last Picture Show (1971) and The Big Chill (1983), filtered through an ironic Generation X lens.... read more read more... Tom Thompson (David Schwimmer) is unemployed and aimless, hovering between childhood and adult responsibilities. A year out of college, Tom can't land a decent job -- he still lives with his mother in Brooklyn. He receives a call from Ruth Abernathy (Barbara Hershey), who informs Tom that her son Bill, Tom's best friend in high school, has killed himself. She wants Tom to deliver the eulogy and serve as a pallbearer, and flustered, Tom agrees, though he has no recollection of Bill. After delivering a lackluster eulogy, Tom meets the grieving Ruth and begins an impulsive affair with her. He also encounters Julie DeMarco (Gwyneth Paltrow), a beautiful classmate for whom he's long carried a torch. Although Julie at first mistakes Tom for someone else, they begin dating, while he keeps his relationship with Ruth a secret. First-time writer-director Matt Reeves work-shopped the script for The Pallbearer with writing partner Jason Katims at the Sundance Institute. Reeves went on to create the TV series Felicity. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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14% liked it

8,130 ratings

Critics

42% liked it

19 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Matt Reeves

Release Date: May 3, 1996

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DVD Release Date: April 3, 2001

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Stats: 192 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (192)

  • LWOODS04
    November 18, 2010
    LWOODS04
    Cast: David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Carol Kane, Toni Collette, Michael Rapaport, Barbara Hershey, Bitty Schram

    Director: Matt Reeves

    Summary: When Ruth Abernathy (Barbara Hershey) mistakes Tom Thompson (David Schwimmer) for someone else, Thompson ends up becoming a pal... read morelbearer at the funeral of her son -- a former high school classmate he doesn't even remember. Despite the fact that he's unemployed and living with his parents, Thompson convinces his old crush (Gwyneth Paltrow) to go out with him. Meanwhile, a sexual relationship develops between Thompson and Mrs. Abernathy.

    My Thoughts: "It's a mix of a comedy and a drama. David Schwimmer plays Tom Thompson, who is a push over. He feels obligated to do anything for anyone when he doesn't want to. But to spare their feelings, he does it anyway. His love interest Julie, is the same way. The story is interesting and you get involved with the characters, especially David's. You watch him kinda grow up in the film. He is 25, jobless, and living at home with his mother and sleeping in bunk beds. By the end of the film you feel like he has grown and matured into an adult. Great job by Matt Reeves. It's a movie worth seeing at least once."
  • thmtsang
    July 14, 2007
    thmtsang
    Case of mistaken identity.
  • SunilJawahir
    October 25, 2008
    SunilJawahir
    The story is pretty limited and doesn't really go anywhere.
  • ileo
    November 9, 2007
    ileo
    A hilarious film.
  • tmannamt
    November 18, 2010
    tmannamt
    I vaguely remember this movie for which I saw this a long time ago late at night on TV, but I remember liking the cast more than what the plot was, but in retrospect it's interesting seeing the director of Cloverfield and Let Me In do something smaller and softer.
  • pRIDEqUEST
    June 21, 2008
    pRIDEqUEST
    I never really watched David Schwimmer in anything to say if he really can act or not, but i did see him in this film and must say that he did a great job in it! And I must agree that at times it was hard to know if I was watching a comedy or a drama. All in all I would recommend... read more this movie!
  • carolynmj19774
    August 12, 2007
    carolynmj19774
    I was SOOOO surprised to see SO many famous actors just starting out in this movie. It was a bizarre movie. I give credit to the imagination who came up with it. It was really cool to see David Schwimmer, Toni Collette, Michael Rapparort, Michael Vaghn (from Alias - don't know hi... read mores real name!), and Gwenyth....and the lady David got involved with. WOW, it was cool to see all these actors so young....I did like it. It was funny at certain parts. Not a blockbuster or anything. And if you look closely - You can even see another guy from Alias....Its funny all the connections....
  • HiMyNameIsSteve
    June 13, 2007
    HiMyNameIsSteve
    I watched it and felt icky.
    Even if I had ten pages to fill about the film, that's all I'd be able to come up with.

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Critic Reviews

Kevin Carr
August 12, 2005
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

Oh God! Who told David Schwimmer he could act???

Alex Sandell
March 5, 2003
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Nice little rip-off of 'The Graduate.' Actually holds up on its own.

Alex Keen
September 13, 2002
Alex Keen, Trades

Not as bad as the title might suggest, maybe a bit too dark a comedy for most audiences. However, it still has some comedic blank spots.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Todd McCarthy
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Pallbearer Trivia

  • This actor moon walked in 'The Wedding Singer', was a hobo and had a big adventure, and was a pallbearer in 'Mousehunt'?  Answer »
  • In which film does David Schwimmer star with Gwyneth Paltrow?  Answer »
  • True or false: David Schwimmer had to have teeth dentures when filming 'The Pallbearer' due to bumping his jaw on a table corner.  Answer »
  • Whose life split into two, became the true love of William Shakespeare, sang on tour with her father and was attracted to a pallbearer?   Answer »
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