Search - The Pallbearer on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1996 DVD Release: 07/27/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins Studio: Miramax Total Copies: 13 Genres: Comedy, Black Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Comedy of Errors

This dark comedy is a clever homage to classic generation gap comedies such as The Graduate (1967), The Last Picture Show (1971) and The Big Chill (1983), filtered through an ironic Generation X lens. Tom Thompson (David Schwimmer) is unemployed and aimless, hovering between childhood and adult responsibilities. A year out of college, Tom can't land a decent job -- he still lives with his mother in Brooklyn. He receives a call from Ruth Abernathy (Barbara Hershey), who informs Tom that her son Bill, Tom's best friend in high school, has killed himself. She wants Tom to deliver the eulogy and serve as a pallbearer, and flustered, Tom agrees, though he has no recollection of Bill. After delivering a lackluster eulogy, Tom meets the grieving Ruth and begins an impulsive affair with her. He also encounters Julie DeMarco (Gwyneth Paltrow), a beautiful classmate for whom he's long carried a torch. Although Julie at first mistakes Tom for someone else, they begin dating, while he keeps his relationship with Ruth a secret. First-time writer-director Matt Reeves work-shopped the script for The Pallbearer with writing partner Jason Katims at the Sundance Institute. Reeves went on to create the TV series Felicity. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

David Schwimmer - Tom Thompson
Gwyneth Paltrow - Julie Demarco
Michael Rapaport - Brad Schorr
Barbara Hershey - Ruth Abernathy
Carol Kane - Tom's Mom

David Schwimmer's first starring vehicle has been given a basic presentation for its release on DVD. The Pallbearer has been given a letterboxed transfer at its original widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Surround. No subtitles have been included, but the disc does include closed captions in English. No additional bonus material has been included. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide