• Reviews
    • Watch This
    • VODepths
  • Humor
  • On the Marquee
  • Looking Back
    • Classic Corner
    • Anniversary
  • Film Fests
Crooked Marquee
  • Reviews
    • Watch This
    • VODepths
  • Humor
  • On the Marquee
  • Looking Back
    • Classic Corner
    • Anniversary
  • Film Fests
Home
Reviews

Review: Palmer

Jan 28th, 2021 Abby Olcese
Review: Palmer

It’s hard to know where to place a movie like Palmer. On one hand, its grim portrayal of small-town life and syrupy representation of a young genderqueer child feel hackneyed. On the other, its rural, more conservative setting and characters could potentially speak to viewers who actually need to hear the film’s message of kindness and inclusion. Palmer may not be great art, but one could argue that significant personal breakthroughs have been accomplished with less.

Our hero, Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake), has just been released from prison after a 12-year stint for attempted murder. He moves in with his grandma, Vivian (June Squibb) with a resolution to get his life back in order. Palmer immediately notices Vivian’s neighbors, Shelly (Juno Temple), a drug-addicted single mom, and her elementary-aged son Sam (Ryder Allen)–a little boy who prefers wearing dresses and playing with dolls to picking up a football.

Shelly disappears (something we’re told she does fairly often), leaving Sam in the care of Vivian and the reluctant Palmer. As Palmer and Sam’s bond grows, Palmer’s desire to protect the kid from anyone who would hurt him–including Shelly–puts his tenuous criminal rehabilitation at risk. Meanwhile, Palmer is also coming to terms with the people and life choices that put him behind bars in college, and establishing new relationships that help him move forward, including a romantic one with Sam’s teacher, Maggie (Alisha Wainwright).

Timberlake and Allen have good chemistry as an unlikely surrogate family. Given Sam’s circumstances, the character edges toward Pollyanna territory; he is (at times) an irritatingly irrepressible kid. Allen’s performance is just natural enough, however, that we (like Palmer) are inclined to want to protect Sam, and preserve his innocence at all costs. Timberlake, for his part, is believable as a small-town guy trying to rehabilitate his image in a place  where second chances are tough to come by. It’s also endearing to see him adapt his views about Sam’s identity. June Squibb gets too little time on screen as Vivian, but makes good use of it, building a realistically selfless and kind character.

The film is ill-served, however, by a predictable plot and a cliched cast of supporting characters. Sam’s mom, Shelly, is a screaming caricature of a drug addict who wouldn’t be out of place alongside Amy Adams’ performance in Hillbilly Elegy. Palmer’s former friends are, to a man, unhelpful, violent and bigoted. Sam’s teacher Maggie is saintly, smart and completely out-of-place in her surroundings–not to mention a less-than-likely romantic interest for Timberlake’s character.

It’s possible that Palmer could reach some viewership pockets of rural America who are drawn to familiar settings and characters, and that Palmer’s loving and affirming relationship with Sam might be inspirational enough to open some hearts and minds. It’s certainly helpful that the film doesn’t get preachy about its LGBTQ+ messaging, but rather frames it in a way that makes sense for these characters. It’s not a cynical film, which is important, given the subject matter. However, it’s not a terribly creative one either.

C+

“Palmer” premieres Friday on Apple TV+.

 
  • Tags
  • movie review
Facebook Twitter Google+
Abby Olcese

Abby Olcese

Abby Olcese is a film critic and pop culture writer. In addition to writing for Crooked Marquee, she is also the film editor at The Pitch magazine. Her work has appeared in Sojourners Magazine, Birth. Movies. Death., SlashFilm and more. She lives in Kansas City.

Related Posts
Review: <i>Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry</i>
Kristy Puchko

Review: Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry

Feb 25th, 2021
Review: <i>Minari</i>
Abby Olcese

Review: Minari

Feb 25th, 2021
Review: <i>I Care a Lot</i>
Abby Olcese

Review: I Care a Lot

Feb 18th, 2021
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
* indicates required
Trending
Feb 10th 8:22 AM
Movies

Bring Back the Oscar Host(s)

Oct 8th 9:00 AM
Reviews

Review: Charm City Kings

Feb 11th 9:00 AM
Reviews

Review: Judas and the Black Messiah

Feb 24th 9:00 AM
Looking Back

Paid in Full‘s Strange Journey from Half-Hearted Release to Cult Favorite

Jun 27th 4:07 PM
Humor

PSA: How to Tell the Sentient Doll Movies Apart

Aug 5th 2:00 PM
Movies

REVIEW: Logan Paul Comedy Airplane Mode

Mar 18th 9:00 AM
Movies

George Romero: Prophet of the Pandemic

Jun 15th 9:00 AM
Movies

VODepths: What to See (and Avoid) On Demand This Month

Dec 14th 9:00 AM
Looking Back

Police Story at 35: How is Jackie Chan Still Alive?

Feb 25th 9:00 AM
Reviews

Review: Minari

blank
cmpopcorn_white3.svg
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Writers Guidelines
  • Members
    • Login
    • SignUp
    • Forums
telephone icon [email protected]
envelope icon [email protected]
© 2014-2020 Crooked™ Publishing
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
blankblank