53
Metascore
21 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 67IndieWireDavid EhrlichIndieWireDavid EhrlichPalmer isn’t exactly high art, but it’s no small feat for something so predictable to avoid feeling dishonest.
- 63Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreIf Palmer isn’t that demanding of star and audience, it’s a perfectly serviceable story for at least reminding the film world that you’re out there, available and perfectly capable of delivering the dramatic goods.
- 63The Associated PressLindsey BahrThe Associated PressLindsey BahrCompelling performances make Palmer watchable and fairly affecting despite the fact that we’ve seen this kind of thing so many times before.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeA capable cast helps the pic rise above its formulaic nature (take out a drunken hookup and some language, and this is a thoroughly mainstream family film, at least for families of non-homophobes), but doesn’t make it a must-watch by any means.
- 60TheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanTheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanWhat Palmer is, in every sense of the word, is decent. It’s familiar, and predictable, and a little bit hokey. But it’s also genuinely moving and surprisingly memorable, thanks to its two leads.
- 50VarietyPeter DebrugeVarietyPeter DebrugeStevens (who has expert instincts in his documentary work) falls short of making this scenario entirely convincing. Take out a few “gritty” details that account for the film’s R rating, and Palmer is formulaic enough to pass for a faith-based movie.
- 50The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzTimberlake fares fine enough in his strong-and-mostly-silent role, displaying genuine chemistry with Wainwright (though let’s not bring in whatever the tabloids and gossip sites have to say about the matter). Allen is delightful in that refreshing way that only newcomers can be. And in terms of Apple TV+’s bid to become a more family-friendly competitor to Netflix, Palmer makes good, decent sense.
- 50Slant MagazineDerek SmithSlant MagazineDerek SmithAfter a while, the film’s parade of contrivances subsumes the acutely observed friendship at its core.
- 50The A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyThe A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyThe best thing that can be said about Palmer is that it’s innocuous: overlong and sentimental, but rarely annoying.
- 40The GuardianBenjamin LeeThe GuardianBenjamin LeeWithin the first 15 or so minutes of Apple TV+’s Palmer, something clicks in, a feeling of overwhelming familiarity, an inner voice quietly realising, “Ohhh, it’s that movie.”