Movie Review: Peanut Butter Falcon

Peanut Butter Falcon is the kind of movie you probably wouldn’t think about seeing but you really should. The movie delivers an important message without falling into the usual stereotypes. A good for your soul, boys own adventure that left a room of movie reviewers laughing out loud.

Peanut Butter Falcon tells the story of Zak (Zack Gottsagen), a young man obsessed with the world of wrestling. Nothing unusual about that. However Zak, who has Down’s Syndrome, happens to live in a care home where his days are spent watching the same old wrestling video over and over. The vision includes an ad for a wrestling school run by the legendary, Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). If only he could go to that school.

One night Zak decides to make his escape. Aided by his room mate Carl (Bruce Dern) he strips down to his ‘not so tighty whities’ and squeezes out the window. Freed, Zak focuses on finding the wrestling school.

Not long into his journey he meets Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a man running from a troubled past. Together they embark on a heartwarming boys own adventure.

The movie was written and directed by Tyler Nilson for actor Zack Gottsagen who has Down’s Syndrome. The goal was to let Zack experience working on a full length movie. Nilson and team achieved that and so much more.

As a room of movie reviewers laughed out loud I pondered:

1. Writer/Director Tyler Nilson did a fantastic job in respectfully conveying the dreams of a young man with Down’s Syndrome.
2. Gottsagen was a gem in the lead role and pulls off the best river crossing ever seen in a movie.
3. I must admit to not being much of a LaBeouf fan, but this movie has completely changed my mind. He’s brilliant in this part.
4. The movie is a good reminder of what makes a home, and how often people with disabilities are underrated.
5. It also touches on the plight of young people with intellectual disabilities living within aged care facilities. Everyone knows it’s not right, but what is being done to address this.

Premiering at the Perth Festival 12-22 December prior to opening in-cinemas 30 January 2020 . For more information go to Perth Festival 2020 and Luna Cinemas