david schwimmer ( from the television series " friends " ) stars as a sensitive ( and slightly neurotic ) single guy who gets more than he expected from the grieving mother ( barbara hershey ) of a classmate he ca n't remember .
hello mrs .
robinson !
though quite cute as a romantic comedy , the pallbearer is paced like a funeral march .
the characters act , react , and interact at half - speed , making for one * excruciatingly * long sit .
( and what 's with the dreary lighting ? )
co - writer / director matt reeves brings some snap to the story 's midsection ; the film briefly comes to life when our hero attempts to resolve his feelings for * another * classmate ( a very appealing gwyneth paltrow ) .
by this time , though
, most viewers will have either fled or fallen asleep .
those tough souls who stay with it can marvel at the sleepy - eyed schwimmer , a hound dog with a head cold , who can go for over an hour without ever changing his expression .
most viewers will have either fled or fallen asleep one * excruciatingly * long sit paced like a funeral march