Palmer (film)

Eddie Palmer is a former high school football star who just got out of prison after 12 years. He lives with his grandmother Vivian, who also occasionally watches over a flamboyant young boy named Sam.

Palmer eventually begins working at the local school as a janitor, and after Vivian passes away is forced to become Sam's temporary guardian with his mom Shelly constantly leaving town. Palmer takes Sam to the high school football game and bowling fundraiser, striking up a relationship with Sam’s teacher, Maggie.

One day Sam comes home crying after getting roughed up by some of his classmates' fathers for wearing makeup, and Palmer beats one of them up at a bar. Shelly returns to reclaim Sam, but he is then taken by Child Protective Services. Palmer attempts to receive guardianship, but is denied due to his parole status. Temporarily returned to Shelly, Sam is shoved by her abusive boyfriend Jerry during a fight, and Palmer takes him. Shelly refuses to press charges and chooses to give Palmer parental custody over Sam.

• Justin Timberlake as Eddie Palmer
• Ryder Allen as Sam, Eddie's young neighbor
• Alisha Wainwright as Maggie Hayes, Sam's teacher
• June Squibb as Vivian Palmer, Eddie's grandmother
• Juno Temple as Shelly, Sam's mother
• Jesse C. Boyd as Coles
• J.D. Evermore as Principal Forbes
• Lance E. Nichols as Sibs, Eddie's boss
• Dean Winters as Jerry, Shelly's boyfriend
• Jay Florsheim as football referee

The screenplay first appeared on the 2016 Black List.[2] In September 2019, it was announced Justin Timberlake was cast to star as Eddie Palmer, with Fisher Stevens directing from a screenplay written by Cheryl Guerriero.[3] In October 2019, Alisha Wainwright was cast, as well as Ryder Allen the following month.[4][5]

Principal photography took place in New Orleans from November 9 to December 13, 2019.[6] The film's score was composed by Tamar-kali.[7][8]

In July 2020, Apple TV+ acquired distribution rights to the film,[2] and released it on their service on January 29, 2021.[9]

Palmer had the second-biggest film launch for the platform, and third-biggest overall. It was also part of a 33% increase in viewership in its opening weekend, setting a new record for Apple TV+.[10]

According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 76% of 84 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Although it traffics in familiar territory, Palmer is elevated by worthy themes and a strong ensemble led by an impressive Justin Timberlake."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 53 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film a grade of B– and wrote: "The little things go a long way in something this broad, and while Palmer isn't much of a tear-jerker — more of a cheek-moistener, at best — it's telling that the film's most touching moments don't stem from how Palmer and Sam have changed so much as they do from the permission they've given each other to be themselves. Palmer isn't exactly high art, but it's no small feat for something so predictable to avoid feeling dishonest."[13] Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, saying: "Despite the flashes of something more challenging, Palmer is a film content to play it safe (his true road to redemption is to slot himself into a ready-made nuclear family), a truly whelming experience that wants you to desperately feel everything from tears to joy."[14]

• Palmer at IMDb
• Palmer at Rotten Tomatoes
• Script Archived February 5, 2021, at the Wayback Machine