Language: English.
Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz.
Writers: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz.
Cast: Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson.
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama.
Imdb: Peanut Butter Falcon (2019).
Streaming on Amazon Prime.
“You got a good-guy heart. You can’t do shit about it, that’s just who you are. You’re a hero.”
“I can’t be a hero because I am a Down’s syndrome”
“What’s that got to do with your heart?”
“Yeah, you’re gonna die, it’s a matter of time. That ain’t the question. The question is, whether they’re gonna have a good story to tell about you when you’re gone. Now, don’t be a bitch. Let’s go.”
Tyler has a guilty past which he always wanted to slay and spring a new life. In a troubled situation and being trailed by some bad guys, Tyler knapsacks and does a swift runaway.
A 22-year boy Zak with down syndrome had been wrongly relegated within the walls of an old age home by the state. He has no one of his own and needs to live life fully. Zak breaks out and leads the journey in his underpants, with no money and resources. In a way all to meet his all-time favorite wrestler nicknamed The Saltwater Redneck, and become a wrestler himself.
While on the run Tyler and Zak meet and form a compassionate bond of unconditional love and care past their barriers by believing in themselves. It’s interesting when the movie turns out to be some kind of a “two bandits on the run” thing by relishing their sparkling youth and living their dreams. Zak’s caretaker at the nursing home, Eleanor sets out to find Zak eventually joining them to form a trio. In addition, Peanut Butter Falcon also prattles about how good and bad people are, and the perspective of society towards down syndrome..
The frames involved in the film like the countryside, waters, swamps, cornfields are a pleasant addition to the story that sets the right tone of the film with minimal yet memorable characters. The film replete with light humor, presents the message without taking itself way too seriously with a wonderful Zak in the heart.
Peanut Butter Falcon is a small buddy trip of joy, humanity, and life that cheers you up and puts a smile on your face. The story of three people who unintentionally meet up, root each other, and become the family they always needed. In a world of racing humans with apathetic selfishness, the trio pursues happiness and lives a life worth living.
Verdict: 4/7 stars.
Good.
Trivia:
- The movie came about because the directors met Zack Gottsagen at a camp for disabled and non-disabled people and he expressed his desire to be a movie star. So the directors wrote the script around him and Zack’s hopes and dreams that bled into the script and people they knew who would allow them to film for free and without permits.
- Zack Gottsagen ad-libbed the answer “party” when he was asked for the first time by Tyler what rule number one is.
- It became a sleeper hit, becoming the highest grossing independent film of 2019.
- Two former professional wrestlers appear in the movie, Jake Roberts aka Jake the Snake, and Mick Foley who wrestled under the monikers Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love
- Although the film received no Academy Award nominations, the two stars appeared together at the Academy Awards show. Gottsagen became the first individual with Down syndrome to present an Academy Award when he and LaBeouf announced the Best Live Action Short Film on February 9, 2020.
