The Peanut Butter Falcon
Roadside Attractions | Release Date: August 9, 2019
7.6
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 151 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
124
Mixed:
21
Negative:
6
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
tropicAcesAug 24, 2019
It’s got heart, but depth and subtlety are nowhere to be found. Parts feel aimless, and at the end of the day I found myself just wanting more, even from a barebones indie road trip film such as this.
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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6
BHBarrySep 1, 2019
"The Peanut Butter Falcon" was written and directed by both Mike Schwartz
and Tyler Nilson and stars Shia LaBoeuf, Bruce Dern, Dakota Johnson and
an amazing actor, Zack Gottsagen, who, in real life has, and who plays the role of, a young man"The Peanut Butter Falcon" was written and directed by both Mike Schwartz
and Tyler Nilson and stars Shia LaBoeuf, Bruce Dern, Dakota Johnson and
an amazing actor, Zack Gottsagen, who, in real life has, and who plays the role of,
a young man afflicted with Down syndrome. This is a tender and sweet story
of a disabled person with a dream and of those willing to assist him in
attaining it. Unfortunately, the powerful message is conveyed via a thin
vehicle that would better have been exhibited as a short film for there just
isn't enough substance to sustain and carry it as a full length feature.
I give the film a rating of 6 for, in attempting to be a modern day
Hucklebery Finn saga of life on or near
the Mississippi, the film goes nowhere and, like the current on the
river, continues downstream to its shallow end.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
amheretojudgeNov 7, 2019
It is exactly like the title suggests, it is sweet and every one is going to like it.

The Peanut Butter Falcon I don't use this word. I don't like to. But the film is "cute". Sweet. The writer and director Tyler Nilson and Michael SchwartzIt is exactly like the title suggests, it is sweet and every one is going to like it.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

I don't use this word. I don't like to. But the film is "cute". Sweet. The writer and director Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz is frankly out on about with an ice cream truck gifting us free multi flavoured ice cream. The only job that they then have is to make sure we like this flavoured ice cream and also not are lactose intolerant. I am going to be honest. I don't like the flavour. Especially not the way it looks. This freestyle beach life or sea life is something that I don't get ever attracted to but then with such substantial if not stylish film is served, you cannot keep yourself away from the dish.

There is also the completeness in the script. As in, it follows the perfect script formula where every element, every scene, every piece of information leads to something. And it has every right to get, give, wherever, whatever it wants. It would then barely be disappointing for the viewers. As it never is. But there is this one other final update on this stereotypical script. And that climax is if not satisfying, is definitely mature and mind clearing to me.

The performance on the other hand also walks by smoothly just as the film does. There is nothing extraordinary, nothing special and nothing new to put a red ribbon on what it has to say. Still The Peanut Butter Falcon is the only one you would root for, bet on. And it is because the other contestants aren't good enough and he is a real people pleaser. He doesn't seek attention and that's why you would be attentive, intrigued towards him. There is also this bizarrely genius formula that it repetitively uses and it is that it goes to enormous extent to just push the characters for another step.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
MarkHReviewsSep 12, 2019
In their feature film debut, directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz didn’t make it easy on themselves. They cast a man with Down syndrome to portray a man with Down syndrome. They took on the baggage of Shia LeBoeuf. They cast DakotaIn their feature film debut, directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz didn’t make it easy on themselves. They cast a man with Down syndrome to portray a man with Down syndrome. They took on the baggage of Shia LeBoeuf. They cast Dakota Johnson in a role that didn’t involve handcuffs. And they hooked it all on a marginal story that owes much to Huckleberry Finn and moves at the laborious pace of a homemade raft on a slow-moving river. Happily, for the most part, they pull it off. Zac (Zack Gottsagen) is a Down syndrome man being warehoused by the state in a retirement home. With a little help from retiree Bruce Dern, Zac makes his escape, eventually meeting up with Tyler (Shia LeBoeuf), who is on the run for his own reasons. Eventually, they become friends and Tyler decides to help Zac achieve his life’s ambition – to train at the wrestling school of Salt Water Redneck, whose video Zac has watched incessantly. Discovered by Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), who is tasked with returning Zak to the retirement home, the trio eventually form an unlikely grouping determined to help Zak live out his dream by, wait for it, embarking on a homemade raft down a slow-moving river.

It’s the unpredictable elements that make this film worthwhile. Shia LeBoeuf decides to come across as a thoughtful, gruffly kind, even introspective character, not the self-absorbed maniac of his reputation. Since she’s not required to remove her clothes in every scene and utter immortal dialogue like “oh, oh… yes,” Dakota Johnson, as Zac’s retirement home caretaker Eleanor, turns out to be an understated, winning actress. The selection of Zack Gottsagen was the most risky, but ultimately most rewarding, choice made by the creative team.

Much has been made of the good-hearted spirit of this film, which is probably a euphemistic way of complimenting the creative team for casting Gottsagen in a leading role. And in fairness, Gottsagen and LeBoeuf do seem to have an offbeat, unconventional friendship that comes across as endearing and authentic.

This does not, however, relieve the writer/directors from delivering a film with a relevant story and actual character development, which they fail to do. While there’s some dialogue about how much freedom Zac should have, the film offers meager character development – who these characters are, what animates them – and very few thoughts about any larger issues. This makes the whole enterprise feel a bit insubstantial. To wrap up the story, the plot relies on a final scene that could charitably be called “magical realism,” but might more accurately be described as a story that simply ran out of steam.

Nilson and Schwartz have announced themselves as a creative team worth following. Hopefully, in their next outing, the team will acknowledge that Mark Twain relied on plot development and insightful observations about the world around him, not just a set of static characters, to make his stories so memorable.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
Mauro_LanariJun 8, 2020
(Mauro Lanari)
Once the typical clichés of the indie debut are exhausted (a "Little Miss Sunshine" on the road, chock full of references to Twain and counterpart to "Honey Boy"), the film ends too.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
DawdlingPoetNov 24, 2021
I noticed this film is categorised as a sports film - I really wouldn't say that, the sport (more specifically, wrestling) element is more a by-plot. I'd say its a semi-uplifting drama, more than anything else. A film about perseverance. ItI noticed this film is categorised as a sports film - I really wouldn't say that, the sport (more specifically, wrestling) element is more a by-plot. I'd say its a semi-uplifting drama, more than anything else. A film about perseverance. It features good performances and some amusing moments, although I did feel the plot was a bit rushed. I did enjoy it though, overall and yes, I'd recommend it. Its nice to see a film about a character with Downs Syndrome who is seemingly determined and who does what he does. I'll say no more.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
JordanLaytonApr 28, 2020
A little bit overrated, but overall liked it. Zack Gottsagen stole the show. Shia gave a good performance, but I just didn't believe his character L for most of the film. That may be a result of the script. Either way, Dakota JohnsonA little bit overrated, but overall liked it. Zack Gottsagen stole the show. Shia gave a good performance, but I just didn't believe his character L for most of the film. That may be a result of the script. Either way, Dakota Johnson disappoints. Overall found this to be a very earnest and well paced adventure with a classic indie absurdist crescendo thrown in. If you can still catch it near you, would recommend.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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