The Peanut Butter Falcon

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Starring Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, John Hawkes

Directed by Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz

The Story:
Zak (Zack Gottsagen) has Down Syndrome and lives in a retirement home because he has no family that wants to take care of him.  He's befriended several of the residents and caretaker Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), but he constantly tries to escape so he can pursue his dream of being a wrestler after watching tapes of The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Hayden Church), who advertises a wrestling school he leads.

One night Zak finally manages to escape and finds himself hiding on a boat belonging to Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a crab fisherman who's led a very trying life and who's currently on the run from fellow fisherman Duncan (John Hawkes).  Zak tells Tyler he wants to get to the school, but at first Tyler wants nothing to do with him - until he sees Zak getting picked on, and decides to have him tag along as long as he doesn't slow him down.  As the two embark through the Outer Banks, they begin forming a deep bond of friendship as Eleanor tries to find Zak.  Once she does, she learns a whole new side to Zak that she never knew, and a deeper appreciation for the man he is - as they journey together to make Zak's ultimate dream a reality.

The Synopsis:
"The Peanut Butter Falcon" is a truly unique film, one of the best feel-good movies of the decade, and one that sticks with you long after it ends in the most pleasant way possible.  Unique and bold, it's like a magical modern version of "Huckleberry Finn" where we witness an adventure of epic proportions featuring only three unique characters, and are treated visually with some of the most beautiful shots of the Outer Banks seen on screen that permeates all our senses and not just our eyes, but we feel like we're there as well experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

The film follows Zak, Tyler, and Eleanor as they traverse the Outer Banks to get to a wrestling school Zak wishes to attend, and along the way they come afoul of Tyler's past as well as the hope Zak brings to everyone he encounters.  In a film that focuses on Down Syndrome, writers and directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz don't make it a handicap for Zak, but rather showcases his unique personality through it.  We never feel bad for him, but we cheer him on as he relentlessly embarks on his quest and doesn't let anything get in his way.  His relationship with Tyler and Eleanor is equally infectious, as they portray a family that's more united than blood.  The cinematography is top notch, as they adventure through the water you feel like you're there, breathing in the salty sea air, feeling the reeds on your hands, moving to the motion of the water.  It's really like a Mark Twain adventure brought to life, beautifully told, elegantly shot, and effortlessly performed.

Shia LaBeouf has had a rough go at it for awhile, but thankfully he returns to the big screen in a big way as Tyler, the troubled fisherman who's battling his own past demons as he allows his darker nature to sometimes take control that ends up with him in trouble more often than not.  He actually meets Zak while he's trying to get away from a rival fisherman whose supplies he set on fire, but when it comes to Zak, we see Tyler not as a bad guy but a hero - something the film often mentions - and as the two unlikely cohorts learn off one another, we see the most beautiful friendship develop.  LaBeouf plays the role like he was born there, who personifies everything it means to be from that area of the country in his speech, appearance, and mannerisms that totally envelop you into the story.

Similiar to LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson really hasn't had a stellar acting career lately, especially being known for those awful "Fifty Shades" films (even though she redeemed herself greatly in films like "Bad Times at the El Royale"), but here she transforms and gives a stellar performance as Eleanor, a woman who I feel the audience will most associate themselves with at the beginning.  She treats Zak like a friend, but also as someone who has Down Syndrome and is very protective, but comes across as someone who doesn't think Zak can do normal things (not to her prejudice, but from a sense of duty and love for him).  When she joins the adventure, she learns to see Zak the way Tyler does, and there's a whole new appreciation that we see that's totally heartwarming and natural.

There's a slew of excellent cameos as well.  John Hawkes gives a great performance as Duncan, the man Tyler wronged and who pursues him throughout the film.  Bruce Dern plays Carl, who lives at the retirement home and is Zak's roommate who helps him escape, and as usual gives a thoughtful performance.  Jon Bernthal plays Tyler's brother Mark, and simply through flashbacks and without words we see the connection between the two men.  Thomas Haden Church plays the Salt Water Redneck, who serves as Zak's hero and is the opposite of the adage of never meeting your heroes.

Yet through it all, the main star of the film is Zack Gottsagen, who electrifies and owns the screen as Zak, a young man who sets out to achieve his dreams and allows nothing to stand in his way.  He effortlessly charms his way through every scene, and you can clearly tell the real-life comrade  between him and his two leading co-stars, and his infectious attitude will leave you with a permanent smile on your face throughout this most beautiful story.

The Summary:
Expressing the true value of human friendship and the power of your dreams, "The Peanut Butter Falcon" delivers a classic Mark Twain-style adventure infused with tremendous performances and a beautifully shot film that'll leave you with a smile long after leaving the theater.

The Score: A+