So, The Peanut Butter Falcon, a movie about a 22 year old guy with Downs Syndrome, who wants to go to a wrestling school in Georgia, could have come off as being very forced and/or saccharine. But, instead, it has a real charm to it. It's also bolstered by some terrific performances, and the story, while having some fairy tale elements, never lets you forget some of the real anger and regret that these characters carry.
Zak is in a nursing home, because the state really has no other place to put this young man with Downs Syndrome. He has a video of The Salt Water Redneck, a wrestler, who's hawking his school for wrestlers. Zak breaks out of the nursing home to make his way to the school and meets up with Tyler (played by Shia LaBeouf). Tyler is on the run from two brothers because he's raided their crab traps, and, well, he also burned them up. He has his reasons, but it's still an overreaction.
As with all buddy movies, Tyler wants nothing to do with Zak at first, but eventually they bond, and Tyler promises to get Zack to the wrestling school. Oh, and Zak's caretaker, Eleanor, is on his trail to bring him back to the nursing home. It all sounds so forced.
But it's really not. The Beouf does an amazing job at portraying a man who has run out of options due to his own actions and guilt. Taking care of Zak is not only a way for him to address some of that guilt, but also give him a semblance of direction. In the thankless role of Eleanor, Dakota Johnson exhibits more charisma in this role than any of her 50 Shades movie combined (I'm guessing). And Zak, played by Zack Gottsagen, plays more than just himself. He imbues his character with real determination and depth. His perseverance drives the movie, and it's utterly believable, charming, and funny.
There's a lot of reference to Mark Twain, and, yeah, tonally the movie cribs from him a bunch. There's a lot of raft riding and meetups with eccentric characters while on a quest. It's not a bad thing to try and emulate, and the movie does well with it.
On the surface, this is a funny and charming movie. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments (Zak holding his breath underwater while Tyler and Eleanor figure out what the next step in the journey will be is a great piece). But underneath that there's sorrow, and guilt, and redemption, and the movie doesn't shy away from the ever-present threat of violence. And that's what elevates the film and makes it pretty great.
But the characters - they're all so real and well-defined. All of them. Even the ones we don't like. It's a real treat.
***1/2
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