“After 12 years in prison, former high school football star Eddie Palmer returns home to put his life back together—and forms an unlikely bond with Sam, an outcast boy from a troubled home. But Eddie's past threatens to ruin his new life and family.”
The Good
Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we? Palmer is incredible, and already one of the best movies of the year in my opinion. Not only is the overall message of the film just so genuine and timely, the characters are brought to life in such a way that you feel like you share in their journey. I can’t stand movies that come across as preachy because they want you to buy into their message, but Palmer just feels so authentic from start to finish that you never once question its intentions.
In my personal opinion, Justin Timberlake is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood. Sure he’s an artist first, and an extremely talented one at that, but this dude can act. I knew he had a chance to he a legit actor after his role in the 2006 crime drama Alpha Dog. Palmer is his first lead role since Wonder Wheel (2017), and he’s back like John Wick.
Timberlake absolutely becomes Eddie Palmer right before our eyes, and not only are you rooting for him to succeed, you feel like you know him and in some strange way share in the pain of his struggle. He reminds us that sometimes second chances can extend well beyond just giving one person a shot at redemption.
The supporting cast is incredible as well, and I have to give a shout-out to my favorite grandma June Squibb, who is 91 years old! Crazy. She is amazing as the old-school no nonsense grandma who values integrity above all else. I know that we sometimes get caught up in the whole “this is the next big star!” when talking about young actors, but man am I excited about the future for Ryder Allen who was only 7 years old during filming at the end of 2019. Taking on a unique and pivotal role in the film, Allen does not miss a beat.
I read an article where he talked about how much the role meant to him and how he wanted to show viewers that sometimes something as simple as a hug can make someone’s day, and he does that and then some. His chemistry with Timberlake feels so effortless and is a big part of why this movie works so well. You’ll be cheering for this young man, that’s all I can say.
The Bad
You’ll be hard pressed to find anything negative about Palmer, trust me on that.
The Verdict
Anchored by career-defining performances from Justin Timberlake and newcomer Ryder Allen, Palmer is a heartfelt drama with a powerful message - and it is exactly the movie we all need right now. Will watching it make you a better person? Perhaps. At the very least you’ll earn enough good karma to last you a couple weeks. Highly recommended.
TED TAKES RATING - 9/10
Palmer is now streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. Watch the official trailer below.