The Pallbearer Reviews

I didn't know what to expect from this flick but since I have a weak spot for Gwyneth Paltrow, I thought I should check it out. First of all, it is interesting to note that, except for Jennifer Anniston, none of the other lead actors starring in 'Friends' really managed to built up a nice career in feature films. David Schwimmer is not an exception, even though, as a director, he has made some interesting features (indeed, his last movie, 'Trust' was chosen by Roger Ebert as one of the best movies of the year in 2011). This time, Schwimmer stars in a romantic comedy and, of course, it was a flop. I mean, it was not really bad at all actually, Schwimmer was quite funny and Gwyneth Paltrow was really charming as usual but the story was unfortunately really pedestrian and predictable. It is really your standard romantic comedy based on a misunderstanding which has been done 100 times before, which is a gimmick that really annoys me. Still, I'm a sucker for romantic comedies and I must admit this one was, in spite its flaws, rather well well made and entertaining so it is actually worth a look, especially if you like the genre. Another funny fact, this flick was directed by Matt Reeves who would eventually end up directing 'Cloverfield' and 'Let me in'.

I expected to dislike this David Schwimmer movie, but was pleasantly surprised. I loved the tone and mood this movie caught. The main character is a loser, but not one I could relate to. He didn't set out to be a loser, and he's not hugely off-track, life just didn't work out like he thought. The predicaments he gets into (such as giving the eulogy for a classmate he doesn't even remember) happen in plausible ways. But the best thing about this movie is the melancholy that is prevalent throughout. Something that is usually hard to capture...either a movie is too funny, or too maudlin. Good movie for a rainy afternoon when things just aren't going your way.