THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (2019)

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottsagen

Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz

Written by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz

Distributed by Roadside Attractions. 93 minutes. Opening this Friday at The Landmark.

Summertime calls for adventures, as seen in Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz’s film The Peanut Butter Falcon. Described as a modern-day Mark Twain story, The Peanut Butter Falcon – from the producers of Little Miss Sunshine – is a charming tale of two bandits on the run and the lessons they learn about self-discovery and acceptance along the way. This unconventional buddy comedy stars the always excellent Shia LaBeouf and breakout Zack Gottsagen, a 34-year-old actor with down syndrome. The film may be predictable, but it’s Gottsagen’s inspiring performance as a determined and self-sufficient young man that makes it worth a watch.

Zak (Zack Gottsagen) is the youthful spirit that livens up the retirement community he calls home. Not much detail is given as to why his birth parents couldn’t provide adequate care for him, but he is adored by the staff and residents nonetheless. The soft-spoken nursing home employee Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) pays special attention to Zak, giving him tough love when he needs it while also encouraging his passion for wrestling. One night, with help from his roommate Carl (Bruce Dern), Zak escapes the nursing home in an attempt to attend the professional wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). Traveling alone with just the clothes on his back, Zak is determined to live out his dreams and meet his hero.

Zak’s disappearance from the nursing home sends Eleanor on a wild goose chase as she attempts to find him despite his lack of phone, money, or any sense of direction. Meanwhile, early on in his journey, Zak meets and eventually befriends Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), the sharp-tongued fisherman who is also on the run from his past. Together, the young men navigate the elements, growing and learning from each other as the days pass.

I write this next statement in full sincerity: The Peanut Butter Falcon plays very much like an after-school special on the importance of friendship. It’s essentially the quote “Friends are the family you choose” brought to life. The screenplay is very plug and play, the characters literally explain the plot through their dialogue. This may come off as pretty cheesy and unoriginal for hardcore cinephiles, but there’s no denying that the message is sweet. The Peanut Butter Falcon offers the perfect sentiment for children and young adults, especially as many are entering a new school year in the upcoming weeks.

While the film itself is sweet, it is Gottsagen’s boundary-pushing performance and inclusivity that makes it truly special.