The 2019 feel good/motivational drama was written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. It’s the story of Zak ( Zack Gottsagen ) a man with down syndrome on the road with Tyler ( Shia LaBeouf ) on a quest to go to a wrestling school.
PLOT:
Zack lives at a retirement home, despite probably being less than 25. This is due to his down syndrome, since his family cannot provide appropriate care for him, the governmont placed him there. He shares a room with Carl ( Bruce Dern ). His primary caretaker is Eleanor ( Dakota Johnson ). His life long dream is to attend a wrestling school hosted by Saltwater Redneck ( Thomas Haden Church ).
Zack is discontempt with his life at the retirement home. So, dreaming for adventure, he breaks out at night. Eventually finding Tyler, a regular joe wandering the South ( TPBF takes place in North Carolina btw ). The next morning, the retirement home people realize that Zack’s missing.
Fearing he’ll hurt himself, Eleanor goes on a quest to track Zack down. Meanwhile, Zack and Tyler have gotten into trouble for stealing parts from Fisherman ‘Ratface’ ( Yelawolf ). Who also attempts to track the two down.
On their way to the wrestling school, Tyler teaches Zack skills he may need to be a wrestle. Later on, Eleanor finds the two. She quickly joins them, while slowly warming up to Tyler. Also, Jon Bernthal shows up for about 20 seconds in a flashback, for pretty much no reason.
After some more adventures, the trio males it to the school. Saltwater Redneck is retired, but feels so bad, he teaches him some things anway. The next day, Zack, aka the Peanut Butter Falcon, is in the ring. After getting his but whooped, he gets back up and throws his opponent out the ring. The End.
CONCLUSION:
The Peanut Butter Falcon was one of my favorite movies of 2019. Though yes, Zack’s way of talking is annoying in the beginning, it doesn’t take too long to brush it off and accept it as part of his character. LaBeouf also did a great job at his part. Tyler and Zack do have genuine chemistry together, and they both feel like people you could meet in real life. Johnson, while also doing a great job, just didn’t hit the notes quite as good as they did.
It dissapoints me that artistic films like this, even with the incredible cast attatched to it, don’t get the attention they deserve. According to Wikipedia, TPBF made less the 25million$ at the box office, while Cats, as in that thing with Taylor Swift and James Corden, made over 75.
Overall, TPBF was an more than enjoyable film that does a great job all around. From everyone casted, to the pacing, to the heartwarming/ inspirational feel good adventure vibe it’s got going for it. It accomplished all this even if it does have a really god damn weird title. 9/10.
-The Screenwriter