It must be challenging to tell a fictional story about a boy with autism and make it authentic. Director Tony Goldwyn and writer Tony Spiridakis (who drew on his own experience as a parent of a child with autism) have done that with Ezra. Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a standup comedian who struggles to raise his autistic son, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald). Max has very different views with his ex-wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne), on parenting Ezra. Additionally, Max and his father (played by Robert De Niro) have a tense relationship. And when Ezra is placed in a "special" school, Max illegally takes Ezra on a road trip on his way to an audition for a comedy gig. And, of course, a great deal of drama ensues.
The family dynamics, the challenge of parenting a child with autism, and the demands of personal growth are explored with sensitivity and compassion. Many people have praised Ezra as an accurate portrayal of autism. The performance by the young Fitzgerald in his acting debut is stunningly good. Cannavale and De Niro are also excellent in their roles. It's great to see De Niro in one of his best performances for some time. And Rose Byrne does a good job as Ezra's mother, although her character does seem to be underutilised.
Goldwyn's direction balances emotional depth with personal story telling, but sometimes, some of the plot seems to be a bit extraneous to the central story. And the narrative occasionally ventures into cliche. But, overall, it's a warm and heartfelt story that moves along at a good pace, although the final act of the film does feel a bit drawn out.
There have been other movies similar to Ezra, such as The Peanut Butter Falcon. But what makes this one stand out is its feeling of authenticity. If you're interested in family dramas, and particularly if you are interested in neurodiversity, you will find this a compelling watch. Despite some of its narrative flaws, its sincerity and depth make this one worth checking out.
