Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
David Schwimmer | ... | Tom Thompson | |
Gwyneth Paltrow | ... | Julie DeMarco | |
Michael Rapaport | ... | Brad Schorr | |
Toni Collette | ... | Cynthia | |
Carol Kane | ... | Tom's Mother | |
Michael Vartan | ... | Scott | |
Bitty Schram | ... | Lauren | |
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Jean De Baer | ... | Suzanne DeMarco |
Elizabeth Franz | ... | Aunt Lucille | |
Mark Margolis | ... | Philip DeMarco | |
Barbara Hershey | ... | Ruth Abernathy | |
Edoardo Ballerini | ... | The Job Interviewer | |
Matthew Faber | ... | Jared | |
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Robin Morse | ... | Sylvie |
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Tony Machine | ... | The Undertaker |
Chaos unfolds as Tom is roped into being a pallbearer (and delivering the eulogy!) by the mother of a recently deceased "friend" from high school that he just can't remember. In the meantime, an unrequited love from high school (NOT the dead guy's girlfriend) reappears in his life. Written by Anonymous
The tone of this film is really difficult to convey on paper. It manages to successfully capture the elusive appeal that David Schwimmer has from time to time; it's easy for his sad-sack personality to grow annoying and pathetic, but this script managed to walk that line. The scenes of embarrassment and shame never seem overdone or cheap, and serve the story well. I especially like the down-to-earth, realistic beauty that Gwyneth Paltrow always brings to a role; she never seems like a movie star playing a real person. Because of Schwimmer's brief tenure as a star with buzz, this was seen as a box office failure, but it was never the kind of movie likely to rake in huge bucks. For what it is, a small, thoughtful, offbeat romantic comedy, The Pallbearer is a winner.