Directors
Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz

Starring
Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson and Zack Gottsagen

In a modified adaptation of the Mark Twain classic Huckleberry Finn, The Peanut Butter Falcon stars Shia LeBeouf as Tyler; a troubled thief on the run from some men he’s wronged. During his attempt to flee, Tyler discovers a stowaway on his boat named Zak (newcomer Zack Gottsagen), another young man on the run, but with a vastly different story. Zak is a young man with Down Syndrome who has become frustrated with his life at an aged care facility after his family had abandoned him and there not being any more appropriate care options for him. He escapes from the facility with the help of his friend Carl (Bruce Dern) with the intention of finding his favourite wrestler and becoming a professional wrestler himself. Tyler and Zak soon form a bond with Tyler agreeing to help Zak get to his desired wrestling school, all the while Zak’s main carer from the aged care facility (played by Dakota Johnson) is hot on their tail.

The film itself was actually written as a vessel for newcomer Gottsagen who had met the directors at a camp for actors with special needs and expressed his desire to star in a film. Following a funding grant being given to the writer/directors, production began on the film. With the strength of Gottsagen’s performance here, hopefully this will lead to a number of other underrepresented actors appearing in upcoming films.

There is a real warmth to this film with solid performances across the board, particularly from the oft maligned Shia LeBeouf. There is comedy mixed with tragedy, but the overriding theme here is the friendship between two outcasts who met each other at a time where they needed each other the most. The Peanut Butter Falcon is a little film with a lot of heart.

3.5 Stars

Trailer
THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON

Moviedoc thanks Rialto Distribution for the opportunity to review this film.

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