When longing for a true feelgood film, the selection on offer can often be littered with tales that unfortunately overflow into the realm of schmaltz. Many such films have their heart in the right place, but also fail to access a certain gravitas that also addresses the issues being discussed. This can certainly be the case when focusing on disabilities; both physical and learning. Thankfully, The Peanut Butter Falcon avoids such traps by being honest, straight, and refusing to pander to stereotypes, be they positive or not.
Signature Entertainment
Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down’s Syndrome, hatches a plan to escape from the old people’s care home where he has been placed. With the aid of roomate Carl (Bruce Dern), he manages to break free and sets off on a journey to become a professional wrestler by heading to a wrestling school run by his idol, The Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). On the way, he meets up with fisherman Tyler (Shia LeBeouf), who is on the run for his own reasons. The pair strike up a friendship with Zak pursued by friend and care home employee Eleanore (Dakota Johnson).
Setting itself as an easily digestible road movie, makes The Peanut Butter Falcon so much more of a rewarding character study. Gottsagen is a revelation, hitting important emotional notes as well as demonstrating some pitch-perfect comic timing. His chemistry with LeBeouf – who embraces a cold personality that shows himself as more caring than anybody else – propels the story, warms the heart, and keeps the laughs coming. What’s also refreshing is how quickly these two bond and why. Both outcasts, it would have been far too easy to have Tyler exploit Zak, or start off far too mean and gradually grow. Instead, Tyler has a mentality of “I don’t care,” he sees Zak as he sees everyone else, and LeBeouf captures the frustration and understanding in every line and exasperated facial expression.
The debut feature of Tyler Wilson and Mike Schwartz, has the writer/director duo sharing duties and honing a script that completely modernises the style of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. We have moments of growth for all characters, never mind their age or background, as the protagonists sail slowly down the river. It results in a number of key shots that capture the beauty in a wild environment, while always elevating the little joys in life. We see key themes of how life needs to be a risk, as that is where we excel, function, and thrive the best. Johnson, like LeBeouf, offers up a complex character who wishes to protect Zak, and for good reason, but is also holding him back.
Come the film’s beautifully bonkers finale, with WWE cameos, blurred lines between fact and fiction, and some darkness that feels truly threatening, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a big hurrah for following your dreams, persevering through difficulties, and not mollycoddling the people we love. Gottsagen is the well-earned star here, capturing an innocence and sincerity that other films would lose on a big name. This film is sure to bring smiles, understanding, and compassion from everyone who views it, yet has enough bite for those of a more aleuf persuasion.
The Peanut Butter Falcon is released in cinemas on 18th October.
