Movie review
January 28, 2021 · 110 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Palmer is a 2021 drama about an ex-convict named Eddie Palmer who returns to his small Louisiana hometown and reluctantly becomes the caregiver for Sam, a young boy from a troubled home. The story focuses on their developing father-son bond amid Palmer's efforts to rebuild his life. It centers on Sam's gender-nonconforming behavior—wearing dresses, playing with dolls, and preferring princess themes—and Palmer's arc of accepting and defending it against community pushback.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Palmer.
Woke representation / casting
Gender-nonconforming boy Sam is the central visible identity signal with heavy focus on his feminine expression and acceptance.
Woke political dialogue
Direct lines and scenes confront and critique traditional gender roles and masculinity.
Identity-driven story themes
Story engine is Palmer's redemption through fully embracing and protecting Sam's queer-coded gender nonconformity.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Conservative small-town attitudes, traditional masculinity, and community reactions to gender nonconformity are shown as harmful and in need of change.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Production
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Conservative complaints label it too woke for pushing gender nonconformity and anti-male messaging; evidence is present but not dominant or viral.
Creator track record context
Director's activist framing and writer's LGBTQ personal story align with the film's themes.
