The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Zack Gottsagen is a young man with Down syndrome (also named Zak, no ‘c’) who is persistently trying to escape from his care facility in order to go meet his idol, a professional wrestler named the Salt Water Redneck, who runs a wrestling school in Florida, hoping to fulfill his dream of becoming a pro wrestler himself. Along the way from the shores of North Carolina, he meets a wayward neer-do-well named Tyler, who is on the run after practically destroying the business of a local crab fisherman. Meanwhile, a woman who works at the care facility is tasked with tracking down Zak before he gets himself into further trouble, leading to a conflict between Zak’s quest to meet his idol, Tyler’s desire to help him while avoiding his comeuppance, and Eleanor’s quest to do what her employers ask without making things worse for the resident she cares for.
Like modern-day Mark Twain in construction, especially “Huckleberry Finn” with its raft adventure, The Peanut Butter Falcon is written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz, representing the first feature-film directorial effort for both. Much like the quest among certain characters to help Zack fulfill his dream of grappling in the ring, the impetus for this film came from the writer-directors’ desire to fulfill Gottsagen’s lifelong desire to be a movie star. The filmmakers had befriended the young actor while doing an acting workshop as part of their volunteer work in Santa Monica, finding Gottsagen to have quite a talent. After making a short film with him that brought out his desire to do more, they committed to making a feature vehicle in which he could use that talent. They incorporated much of his personality into the role, including his love of wrestling, and some of their anecdotal experiences when they were all together.
They knew it would be hard to make a movie with little to no experience, and little to no money, but they had a few ideas that might work. They had friends with boats they could probably use for free, and they could film in North Carolina’s Outer Banks without needing to secure a film permit (though they ended up filming in Georgia due to the tax advantages and infrastructure in place for making movies). They would keep the scope small and the cast down to a handful of roles, most of them involving Zak and the rogue as they share stories and adventures.
They couldn’t find any takers for their script, crafting a trailer to give a better pitch of the kind of film they were looking to make, with writer-director Nilson portraying the Shia LaBeouf role. They had a breakthrough when actor Josh Brolin decided to do something for others as part of an Instagram New Year’s resolution by giving their script a read. He liked it enough to agree to play the Salt Water Redneck when the movie was made, though, in the end, he wasn’t able to due to his commitment to appear in Deadpool 2. Due to Brolin giving the project a higher profile, Ben Foster had also taken an interest to help out and was originally cast to play the outlaw, Tyler. The producers they secured managed to shop out for additional talent, resulting in the rather star-studded cast of actors who loved the script and wanted to be involved.
Unfortunately, Foster would bow out after his wife would become pregnant, calling up his associate Shia LaBeouf as a favor to replace him in the role (Foster replaced LaBeouf in a role on Broadway (“Orphans”) when the latter had personality conflicts with Alec Baldwin). Based on the concept and who was on board, LaBeouf agreed without the need to fully read the script. That extended to the rest of the cast and crew, who signed on knowing they would get paid the minimum possible. LaBeouf spent three weeks working on a crab boat to get into the role while bonding with Gottsagen on the lengthy trip to and from the site. LaBeouf would famously get busted for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct in Savannah, GA, where the film was shot. Despite this mishap, the sometimes troubled actor credits his experience working with Gottsagen for getting him back on the right track.
Ultimately, the theme of the film, about how friends are the family you choose, shines through. The story is hinging on the friendship this odd couple shares on their adventure, finding common bonds and experiences they can cherish for the rest of their lives. The chemistry would also spill over off the screen too, as the cast and crew would find common bonds, with LaBeouf and Gottsagen passing the time entertaining themselves by having rap battles, checking out wrestling videos, and improvising lines that ended up in the final cut.
Performances are the key here. Much will be made of Shia LaBeouf’s side of things, primarily because he is the actor with the most range for the film. While he can be brash and edgy in his performances at times, I do feel this very much works well for the character of Tyler as portrayed here. He is a rather unlikeable person until you see him through Zak’s eyes. Dakota Johnson doesn’t have a role that stretches her acting talent here, but she is also appealing for the limited nature of the character, perhaps so sincere that we might feel that she’s too good of a person to deserve the ending for her character that she gets, though, I suppose, she seems content with it.
Many might overlook the central performance by Zack Gottsagen, perhaps because he is someone with Down syndrome portraying the same. However, his is the most critical role of the film, despite being far less flashy; if he labors or fails at all to convince us at all that he is exactly the person he represents to be, the entire film would fall apart. He isn’t just repeating what someone else tells him, obviously riffing with Shia to improv some very funny lines.
The Peanut Butter Falcon is a sweet and charming film but avoids the kind of sugarcoating that might make for a saccharine experience, and it doesn’t overly glorify Zak’s Down syndrome in the Hollywood way. Much of the storyline is all about how, regardless of whatever may be perceived of his condition, it doesn’t make a lot of difference once you make that emotional, intellectual, or spiritual connection. To an outsider, his Down syndrome is all they will see. To an acquaintance, he is what is known as “special”. To someone who befriends him, there’s nothing at all special about him, because they know that he’s just like everyone else.
When Zak continuously tries to tell Tyler that he is a “Down syndrome person” as a rationale for his actions, and Tyler responds, “I don’t give a s**t”, it’s a pivotal moment in the relationship that says that Tyler isn’t doing what he’s doing for Zak because he has Down syndrome, but despite it. As much as his behavior may bug him on occasion, there’s something much more to Zak that Tyler does come to know, like, and appreciate that makes him risk whatever it takes to draw out. And the same can be said in return because, in truth, Tyler isn’t exactly a good guy in his actions, and yet, Zak sees the good within him. It’s only when Zak sees that side that Tyler begins to see it himself and make that turn to be a better person if only his past will allow him that second chance.
How Tyler feels toward Zak is the same as I feel about The Peanut Butter Falcon as a movie. It’s not because it features a “Down syndrome person” in a lead role that I feel compelled to treat is as special. It’s because it tells a good story, with characters we come to care about, and themes we can all relate to that it succeeds in the end. Is it perfect? Not at all, as there are elements that might feel contrived or formula in certain respects, and there is an element of potential romance that either isn’t needed or might have been built up better for us to feel a stronger connection to when it inevitably emerges. However, it’s for the things we can connect to within that we ultimately like and enjoy being in the company of The Peanut Butter Falcon more so than for not revolutionizing the narrative process of filmmaking.
It’s gentle, kind, strong, resolved, and very, very likable. It treads the fine narrative line between the literal and the fantastic in a way that doesn’t break its spell, which is the sign of quality filmmakers, despite this being their first effort. It earns its sentimentality without being overly sentimental, and once it’s all done, it offers much more to think about than just as a feel-good experience. Whether due to a genetic condition, a few bad paths that were taken, a tragic history, or pressures to live up to the expectations of others, we all have our issues to wrestle with. With the help of others following along the same path, perhaps we can overcome them together.
Qwipster’s rating: A
MPAA Rated: PG-13 for some violence and language
Running Time: 97 min.
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, Thomas Haden Church, Jake Roberts
Small role: Jon Bernthal, Yelawolf, Mick Foley
Director: Tyler Nilson, Mike Schwartz
Screenplay: Tyler Nilson, Mike Schwartz