The familiar following-your-dreams story of “The Peanut Butter Falcon” comes alive thanks to vibrant Savannah-area locations and three engaging performances. Most unusual is that of Zack Gottsagen, an actor with Down syndrome who was told it would be tough to have an acting career because there aren’t many roles for people like him. So writers-directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz wrote a role and a story for him. Gottsagen returns the favor with a wonderful performance where it never seems like he’s being aggressively directed into his actions.
He plays Zak, who has been stuck in an old-folks home by the state of North Carolina. Dakota Johnson’s Eleanor is one of the home’s workers; she knows it’s far from ideal that a 22-year-old (Gottsagen is 34, but it’s not distracting) be housed with the elderly. Although not a cold person, she cares for Zak in a clinical way.
After he escapes, Zak meets Shia LeBeouf’s vagabond Tyler, who treats Zak on a human level. People who work with the disabled will perhaps find it lecture-y that untrained, uncouth Tyler relates to Zak better than George Washington University graduate Eleanor. But hey, it’s a movie.
“Peanut Butter Falcon” – so named because that’s the professional wrestling character Zak dreams of becoming – has its share of “Hey, it’s a movie” moments, but it’s not treacly. Nilson and Schwartz keep the attention on the people. The film’s driving force is bearded Tyler, who stays one step ahead of villains Duncan (John Hawkes) and Ratboy (Yelawolf). They are rather justifiably irked that Tyler has stolen their crab catch, but their violence and death threats put them firmly in the villain category.
Tyler doesn’t take a lot of crap from Zak, and the film itself nicely avoids the kid gloves too. The duo bonds partly because Tyler’s a good dude at heart, but also because Zak isn’t as annoying as you might fear. Zak is simple and slow, sure, but Tyler is drawn to his big heart and – to be somewhat cynical – his physical strength: He gets Zak to lug his pack on their wanderings as they head toward Florida.
While “PBF” – set in the undefined recent past — dodges schmaltz, it likewise doesn’t go as deep into various issues as it could. It’s content to raise some points: for example, the wrongness of a Down syndrome person being put in a retirement home rather than with a group that’s a better fit. The film ends abruptly, right after a big moment that arguably could’ve been a springboard for another act, and another layer of intrigue.
“PBF” boasts a stellar supporting cast, including Bruce Dern (“Nebraska”), Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher”), and Thomas Hayden Church (“Sideways”) as the Salt Water Redneck, Zak’s wrestling hero. The heartwarming screenplay obviously got talented actors on board, and the finished product will get a lot of film fans on board. The visuals are top-notch, with cinematographer Nigel Bluck giving us an especially nice fire-lit scene of Tyler, Zak and Eleanor bonding on the docks.
“PBF” isn’t as down and dirty and great as could’ve been, but – even beyond the novelty of featuring a major character with Down syndrome – it offers enough human moments and Atlantic coast visual treats to be well worth a rental.