'The Peanut Butter Falcon' A Review

The Peanut Butter Falcon is a buddy dramedy about Zak(Zack Gottsagen) a man with Down syndrome who escapes the retirement home in which he lives by government mandate in order to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. He meets up with Tyler(Shia LaBeouf) an unsettled thief/fisherman on the run from Duncan(John Hawkes) after burning his crab cages. The two traverse the Outer Banks on the way to Zak's hero Salt Water Redneck's wrestling school.

LaBeouf is arguably the best he's ever been- committed, earnest, and charming but still retaining some edge and unpredictability that give his screen presence some weight. Newcomer Gottsagen gives a wonderfully varied and emotional performance, conveying much with his face and physicality alone. The real star though is the two together, there's an infectious fun and undeniable magnetism with just the right hint of danger whenever they share the screen. They also discover some very real and very poignant moments that feel improvised or are so organic it's impossible to tell the difference. Dakota Johnson as Eleanor is servicable as Zak's initial caretaker and the eventual love interest of Tyler but the part is underwritten and Johnson's lackluster presence can't do much with the part nor compete with the wattage of Gottsagen and LaBeouf.

An incredible soundtrack and beautiful landscape help capture this heart warming small scale American adventure in a way that is evocative of the past but also wholly of the present. A disarmingly effecting, surprisingly fun ride.

See It.