Justin Timerlake makes a pretty convincing bid to be a serious actor in this inspiring drama from director Fisher Stevens. Palmer is a story of an ex-con who, through a series of circumstances, takes in a gender non-conforming young boy and becomes a man he can be proud of through raising him. The film is rather conventional but it doesn't falter too much. While not perfect and with an ending that is a little too easy, Palmer remains a satisfying watch.
Supported by the wonderfully watchable Wainwright and Squibb, Timberlake plays it subtle. He doesn't go in for any big Oscar moment style acting, just lets his character quietly be. His sadness, his rage, his struggles, his happiness feel all the more real for it. And Temple does a good job in a role that could be quite a cliche. The cast is all up to the task, including new comer Allen who is just a delight all the way through, the film allowing him to show a real strength in his character's resolve to be themselves.
The film's story makes us confront some difficult issues but always gives us an answer which isn't too hard. There were times I thought it would go to some darker places but it mostly keeps things rather straight forward. It doesn't ignore the difficulties in this story but it blinks a bit and makes things okay, so we can watch without too much grief and sorrow. Palmer ends up walking a fine line between being general audience accessible and wrestling with the hard questions. It generally succeeds in my opinion although I did feel the ending rushes its resolution and therefore loses some of its authenticity.
Still Palmer is enjoyable in that you'll-laugh-you'll-cry sort of way and it gets points for being genuine in its intentions.
Palmer
Starring: Justin Timberlake, Ryder Allen, Alisha Wainwright, June Squibb, Juno Temple
Director: Fisher Stevens
Writer: Cheryl Guierriero
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