The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.

Jess' Review

Despite some questionable appearances that resulted in some serious typecasting, I’m actually quite a fan of Shia LaBeouf. I think he’s talented, and it’s great to see him pull away from easy roles and helm more original, unique productions instead. The Peanut Butter Falcon is one such film.

Following Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, in the aftermath of his escape from a retirement home forced to care for him; the plot is one of friendship, dreams and freedom. Forming an unlikely alliance with outlawed Tyler (LaBeouf), the two travel cross-country in search of a legendary wrestling school. The story is warm, touching and quite consistently feel-good even in its moments of tension. It’s hard to go into the film expecting anything less. And of course it delivers in eliciting those fuzzy feelings in your chest from start to finish.

The acting chemistry between our two leads is faultless. The camaraderie seems infallibly genuine, to an extent where you can’t help but smile along with the duo’s antics. The relationship is the foundation of the film. One, that had it been sloppy or unauthentic, would have left the movie in tatters. But it’s perfect. LaBeouf and Gottsagen shine on screen, providing a steady stream of laughs as much as heart-warming smiles. You can’t help but route for the two of them, and yet there is seldom cheesiness. Of course the script is a bit fluffy at times, but there is little Hollywood corniness or dramatisation. It always feels incredibly real, and for me, that elevates The Peanut Butter Falcon to a league of its own.

The shots are wonderfully vibrant, making gorgeous work of the expansive wilderness in which the majority of the film is set. These visuals are further enhanced by a charming bluegrass soundtrack that permeates each scene. It truly feels like an adventure, and even with a slight absence of fret, I’m truly routing for the two of them throughout.

A little predictable, perhaps, and entirely sanded down at the edges, The Peanut Butter Falcon does not rock the boat. It’s a feel-good film, championing authenticity and charm in favour of any real stakes. It’s an easy watch, but one that is entirely enjoyable nevertheless.

7/10

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Sam's Review

Zak (played by Zack Gottsagen), a young man with Down syndrome, breaks free from a care-facility to chase his dreams of becoming a wrestler. On the run, he meets Tyler (Shia LaBeouf) and they quickly become friends.

A modern-day version of a fairy-tale, without the fantasy. Tyler is running from his demons, who continue to chase him. Zak is after glory. Dakota Johnson’s Eleanor attempts to track down Zak for redemption. The Peanut Butter Falcon is unabashedly a feel-good film, but unlike most, this one has actual substance.

The bond between Zak and Tyler is binding. Though it is out of character for Tyler, who is introduced to us as a bit of a loner and clearly has no interest in that changing, the bond is so touching, that it’s easy to forgive the narrative flaws. Tyler treats Zak as a human and as an equal, something that it seems no one else has done his entire life. There is a very smart scene where Eleanor coddles Zak about his blood sugar, and Tyler’s take on it, while perhaps phrased a bit roughly, is smart and full of class. And, as an added bonus, the way the conversation takes place caused a few chuckles, too.

There is a rawness to the film, carried by the phenomenal acting and stellar dialogue. Unfortunately, Eleanor’s character is underdeveloped and underused. However, Zak and Tyler are brilliant. Their dialogue is real, holding an authenticity that is engaging. And the chemistry is palpable. So much so that it’s hard not to care about them.

The story arc is lacking. While the basics hold up, the way it is portrayed can be underwhelming, with the stakes often removed. If it wasn’t for such dynamic characters, The Peanut Butter Falcon may fall flat. It’s not that the script is bad, but with a talented cast that are firing on all cylinders, it should have been better. And the ending was disappointing. It was over in a flash, with little in the way of closure. There were still loose ends that made little sense.

It was nice to have an actual story built around a disability. Opposed to someone being wedged into a film for the sake of inclusivity. And the film is good. It’s heart-warming and genuine in a way that most films desperately grasp at but never come close to reaching.

Brilliant acting, brilliant dialogue and a few well-crafted shots of backwater Florida that have a charmingly indie feel to them.

7.5/10