‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ is one of those quirky, hidden gems. If you blink, you might miss catching this charming road trip drama. The reason it works so well is due to the acting chops of Shia LaBeouf, newcomer Zack Gottsagen and the lovely Dakota Johnson. It is the character-driven chemistry between the three leads that give it a magical spark. Who would ever think that a plot dealing with crab fishing and professional wrestling would work? Yet the story draws you in and holds you to the climax. Filmmakers Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz have achieved an impressive feature debut. If you’re looking for a feel-good movie, ‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ delivers a heartwarming experience.
Zak (Gottsagen) is a young man with Down syndrome. His family abandoned him and he lives as a ward of the state of North Carolina in a nursing home. His roommate is a cantankerous old man Carl (Bruce Dern) who supports Zak’s dream of becoming a professional wrestler. He watches a VHS recording of his hero, Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). One night Zak escapes the home and social worker Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) is tasked to find and return him. The first person he encounters is Tyler (LaBeouf), a down on his luck fisherman who gets beaten up by Duncan (John Hawkes) and Ratboy (Yelawolf) for poaching their crab traps.
At first, Tyler is reluctant to help Zak but ultimately takes him under his wing on his quest to meet Salt Water Redneck. This is where the story gets endearing. The two bond on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It takes on a Huckleberry Finn vibe. The two have an interesting conversation about good guys versus bad guys. Zak thinks he is a bad guy that blames himself for his misfortunes. On the other hand, Tyler is unsure if he is a bad guy. It is essentially Tyler’s journey of redemption as he helps Zak fulfill his lifelong dream. LaBeouf perfectly showcases his talents as a misunderstood antihero. It feels naturalistic. The cinematography by Nigel Bluck is gorgeous along the Outer Banks.
When Eleanor (Johnson) joins Tyler and Zak on their adventure, it rounds out the story nicely. The subplot adds a hint of romance that doesn’t feel forced. LaBeouf and Johnson have wonderful chemistry together. When Tyler seduces Eleanor, it seems innocent. LaBeouf has that boyish charm quality that women cannot resist. I was rooting for these two to fall in love with each other. I was also rooting for Zak in reaching his goal. Ultimately, he learns from Tyler how to live life. The film is never condescending about Zak’s Down syndrome and treats his character with dignity.
‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’ is one of those rare finds at the movie theater. It’s a small film that packs a dramatic punch. It has terrific performances, emotional drama and beautifully shot cinematography. This is a heartwarming story worth your time.
