The Unbreakable Boy

I know a guy, probably one the sweetest people you'll ever meet, dealing with a special needs child. He loves his son more than anything and will do anything for him to make life a little easier. I read the reviews and I can't help to wonder how many people here have ever actually met someone with Autism. Because unless you have, there's no possible way you'd understand this film. Perhaps the film was written a little too specifically geared towards people with Autistic children. Still, this guy I know was overwhelmed with emotion because the movie shows the world what parents of Autistic kids deal with daily. It's a constant battle with a society that has very little empathy.

After three years of delays, "The Unbreakable Boy" was finally released, and I didn't know what to expect. I haven't read the original book or heard about the real-life events that inspired it, which means it could've gone either way. I'm glad that it went in a powerful and entertaining direction.

To start, all of the performances were strong. The core family the movie focuses on is portrayed fantastically and effectively by Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahy, Gavin Warren, and especially a phenomenal Jacob Laval as Austin. These characters needed to be believable for this movie to work, and I felt the actors (mostly) succeeded with this task.

Jon Gunn's directing was incredibly inspiring. I don't think it's as ambitious as his previous effort, "Ordinary Angels," but he did an exceptional job making this narrative work. His screenplay also enhances the investment I had in the characters.

With the central plot revolving around Austin, who has brittle bone disease and autism, I can only imagine how difficult it was to portray it. I felt like the team depicted Austin with care, and I learned more about these conditions than I would have, although I understand this is a film. Either way, this movie does a nice job of showcasing how people with autism and brittle bone disease might be considered different, but they can inspire optimism and joy in others. It makes for a feel-good story that moved me.

For the final positive, the pacing was solid. I felt it never drags, and I was always interested in seeing where the story would go next.

Unfortunately, as much as I tried to overlook them, some issues are plain as day.

To start, not to spoil anything, the film isn't concentrated entirely on Austin. It's divided between him and his father, Levi's Scott. Scott faces numerous struggles, one of which is trying to understand Austin. Unfortunately, many moments make Scott incredibly unlikeable. The movie chronicles a potential redemption story for him, but some of his actions distract from what should be a very inspirational story. The opening scene alone should give you an idea of why this is a problem. He's not entirely disagreeable, but several things he does infuriated me, and parents who see this will probably feel the same way.

The other two issues are minimal, more like aspects I have mixed feelings about. A side character in Drew Powell's Joe doesn't justify his existence until halfway through the movie, which is weird. I enjoyed his inclusion, but until that mid-point section, he felt pointless. The other problem is that although it stuck the landing, it happened after three other potential conclusions, which is odd. That's about it for the negatives, thankfully.

It's not perfect, but critics are unjustifiably harsh to "The Unbreakable Boy." Briefly reading into why, I'm baffled that it didn't connect with critics. It contains flaws, but not enough to call it a bad or mediocre movie - far from it.

Technically, the acting, directing, and screenplay make for a 9/10 technical score. Admittedly, one moment contained out-of-place, bad CGI, which took me out of it, but outside of that, nothing's technically wrong with this film.

The enjoyment score: the flaws are hard to ignore, but it remains a delightful time. Therefore, the enjoyment score is a 9/10. It's hard to call it an easy watch, but it's an eye-opening one worth watching!

While Austin does have more character than Music, feels a bit less like an autism stereotype, and has no real offensive scene (e.g. Prone restraint) except for maybe that one scene where Austin gets the wrong medication and goes ballistic, the movie as a whole still suffers from many of the problems Music had.

The most glaring issue being that the plot focuses more on the parent/caretaker becoming sober than it does about the challenges and uniqueness of being autistic. Not only is this a plot that hits all the beats you would expect from an addiction film, but it takes away the spotlight from what the movie's title is supposedly supposed to be about, the autistic kid.

The second, and this is a bit less of an issue compared to Music, but still a problem, is that the autistic character doesn't feel like a real character. Granted, they do try a little more with giving Austin characteristics outside of his autism (he's talkative and cheerful), but he still doesn't feel like an actual complex human being with motivations, an arc, and depth. And this goes back to the movie not really being about him. The quirks, emotions, and meltdowns he exhibits lack meaning and we have little reason to connect with this character as we don't really see from his perspective. And yes, even the narration feels flat.

The other characters also suffer from the same problem as Austin, yes, even the protagonist (Zachary Levi) feels one-note. All he has about him is his alcoholism. The characters have nothing special about them other than having a few funny and heartwarming moments. Zachary Levi's character also has a strange hallucinatory friend that pops in out of nowhere to support him from time and time and that's all he does. The only character I actually tolerated is Logan, who doesn't even do much in this film. He wants to help his bully, which is a nice quality to have. Unfortunately, his problem gets solved Dharr Man style.

The only consistent positive thing I have to say about it is the acting of everyone. They did what they were given, they were emotionally compelling enough, and they help us connect a little more to the characters and their emotions despite the glaring script. Austin even has speech problems which is a common thing for us autistic folks.

I can see why this film was shelved after the controversy of Music and frankly, it should've stayed shelved. And before you ask, I do recognize this is based on a true story that was written from the father's perspective. I'm aware of that. However, I have not read the book so I do not know how much of this is true.

I found this movie on DVD at my public library. Its rating seems a bit low, my wife and I found it enjoyable, interesting and entertaining. The end credits and extras include the real family depicted here.

Zachary Levi is Scott, working in pharmaceutical sales. One day he is at a clothing store and sees a pretty clerk. He stammers and manages to get her phone number.

The pretty clerk is Meghann Fahy as Teresa. They start dating and soon she calls him and says, "I'm pregnant." He eventually finds out other things, a function of not getting to know a person well before falling in love.

Anyway they have a baby boy, he seems healthy but cries a lot. They soon find he has inherited the brittle bone affliction from his mother and had some broken ribs during birth. In addition, as he gets older is diagnosed with autism.

All of this creates a slew of expensive problems for the family. Scott copes by drinking too much which exacerbates the problems. The movie is about their working through all the difficulties and achieving their own definition of happiness.

I will also make special mention of Jacob Laval who plays young autistic Austin as a 13yr old. While all the actors are good he elevates it to superb.

Good, worthwhile movie.

The Unbreakable Boy is a touching family drama based on a true story. The film explores important themes of resilience, illness, and unconditional parental love, yet it fails to fully develop them.

Pros: The story is inspiring, and the protagonist is likable.

Strong performances, particularly from Zachary Levi as the father.

A warm and uplifting atmosphere that highlights the power of family and support.

Cons: The plot is predictable, and the screenplay feels shallow at times.

Lacks depth in character development-despite its potential, the story never reaches its full emotional impact.

Overly sentimental in places, relying on clichés rather than genuine drama.

Overall, The Unbreakable Boy is a decent family drama, but it lacks originality and depth to leave a lasting impression. It's worth a watch but unlikely to stay with you for long.