Cast: David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Rapaport, Barbara Hershey, Toni Collette, Michael
Vartan, Bitty Schram, Carol Kane
Director: Matt Reeves
Producers: Jeffrey Abrams and Paul Webster
Screenplay: Jason Katims and Matt Reeves
Cinematography: Robert Elswit
Music: Stewart Copeland
U.S. Distributor: Miramax Films
Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson…
Matt Reeves' The Pallbearer is loaded with none-to-subtle references to Mike Nichols' 1967 classic, The Graduate. The problem is that this mediocre toast to the past has lost its fizz, resulting in a bland concoction that's as devoid of originality as it is of warmth and humor.
Oh, there are occasionally funny moments, but those are outnumbered by instances when The Pallbearer makes its audience feel uncomfortable. There is a funereal atmosphere, and even the most "lighthearted" scenes are handled with a heavy hand. This is the most grim comedy since Muriel's Wedding, but The Pallbearer is neither as well-written nor as deftly directed.
Only in the movies could a guy like David Schwimmer find himself the romantic target of both Gwyneth Paltrow and Barbara Hershey. Schwimmer plays Tom Thomas, a directionless, post- college architect who's looking for a job, financial independence, and a way out of him mother's house. One day, Tom gets a phone call from a distressed woman, Ruth Abernathy (Hershey), who wants Tom to be a pallbearer at her son's funeral. Tom doesn't remember the dead guy, but, unable to refuse a crying woman, he agrees. Meanwhile, Julie DeMarco (Paltrow), a high school classmate Tom had a crush on, moves back to town, and he convinces her to go out with him. Complications arise when his attempts to comfort Ruth develop into a sexual relationship, and Tom finds himself caught between two women.
There are some cute scenes between Schwimmer and Paltrow, but the pairing with Hershey doesn't generate any heat or pathos. Two of the characters in the film, Tom's Mom (played by Carol Kane) and his best friend, Brad (Michael Rapaport), are irritating beyond belief. Rapaport (Beautiful Girls) is normally annoying, so this is no surprise, but Kane (The Princess Bride) is typically likable.
Ultimately, the real problem is that The Pallbearer is a real downer -- and it's more than just the title. From the dark cinematography, glum tone, and stagnant humor to the uninspired direction, there aren't many reasons to like this film. While it's not a terrible example of movie making, it represents a clear picture of mediocrity, and those hoping to see a '90s version of The Graduate will be disappointed. The Pallbearer doesn't have what it takes to make the grade.
© 1996 James Berardinelli