Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- awkward
- witty
- morbid
- date night
- 1990s movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film caught awkwardly between dark comedy and romantic comedy, with David Schwimmer’s performance unable to overcome the uneven material.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tom is treated as the close high-school friend of the deceased despite barely remembering him, forcing him into the pallbearer role and eulogy.
The funeral, pallbearing duties, and requested eulogy place romantic and social embarrassment inside a setting of grief.
Tom’s unrequited high-school love Julie reappears while he is already entangled in the funeral’s mistaken expectations.
Tom struggles to respond maturely to the funeral obligation and to his renewed feelings for Julie.
Films like The Pallbearer, and why
The Wedding Singer
romantic comedy built around awkward social obligations, mistaken identity, and an emotionally immature protagonist
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
1990s romantic comedy combining workplace-age uncertainty, nostalgia, and complicated romantic choices
The Opposite of Sex
darkly comic treatment of death and romantic confusion within an urban ensemble
Movie Details
- Director
- Matt Reeves
- Release Date
- 1996-05-03
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.0 / 10 (132)
Cast
- David Schwimmer
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Michael Rapaport
- Toni Collette
- Carol Kane
- Michael Vartan
- Bitty Schram
- Jean De Baer
- Elizabeth Franz
- Mark Margolis
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Pallbearer about?
- A directionless young man is pulled into an absurd funeral obligation just as his old romantic longing resurfaces.
- What is The Pallbearer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Pallbearer as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Pallbearer violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Pallbearer.
- What did critics think of The Pallbearer?
- Critics generally found the film caught awkwardly between dark comedy and romantic comedy, with David Schwimmer’s performance unable to overcome the uneven material.
- Which films are like The Pallbearer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Wedding Singer, The Truth About Cats & Dogs, and The Opposite of Sex.
- How long is The Pallbearer?
- The Pallbearer runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Pallbearer?
- In United States, The Pallbearer is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
