Film Review: Palmer

When Eddie Palmer (Justin Timberlake) comes home after a 12-year stretch in the Big House, he expects to find his grandmother Vivian (June Squibb), the only mother figure he has ever had. 

What he doesn’t expect is to find a seven-year-old kid named Sam living in the house trailer next to Vivian’s property, nor that Vivian is playing mom to him the way she did to Palmer all those years ago. Sam’s real mom Shelly (Juno Temple) is an addict who disappears for long periods of time.

Palmer, a onetime hometown gridiron hero, played a year of college ball, but then developed an unhealthy relationship with pain pills, ending up in the slammer.

Speaking of playing, Palmer is shocked to find that Sam, a cute outgoing kid, 

likes to wear dresses and play with dolls. He pines to be a member of Penelope’s Flying Princess Club.

“You do know you’re a boy?” asks Palmer acidly. “Boys don’t play with dolls.”

“Well, I’m a boy, and I do,” replies Sam.

Vivian takes Palmer in, but has one ironclad rule: He must drive the trio (including Sam) to church every Sunday, because “they won’t let me drive anymore.”

Palmer needs to find a job, but in this southern town where “it’s all about church and football,” this is a big ask for an ex-con. A provisional assignment as a janitor at Sam’s school sets the scene for a meeting with lovely teacher Miss Maggie (Alisha Wainwright), whose daughter Emily (Molly Sue Harrison) is Sam’s classmate.

If you think you know where this is going, you’re probably right. There’s nothing unusual or startling about Cheryl Guerriero’s script, but there is some fine acting and a heaping helping of humanity, which goes down very nicely right about now.

Timberlake is presented as rather more saintly than one would expect, especially given the evidence we see of his fondness for chuggin’ and sluggin.’ It’s difficult to either buy his own self-willed transformation or Maggie’s influence on him. But one can easily just take it for what it is, and go along for the ride. I’d advise the latter.

Young Ryder Allen could easily get a nod for this role, which he plays with absolute authenticity. I began to wonder how likely it is that a small (and small-minded) southern town could produce a kid this self-assured, but Allen is so likable that I put aside my concerns. 

Do yourself a favor: don’t waste time wondering how likely this is. Just enjoy it for what it is.

“Palmer” is playing on Apple TV+