The director of American Underdog and Atypical Angels brings one other inspirational true story with a splash of religion to the massive display screen.
Plot: When his dad and mom, Scott and Teresa, be taught that Austin is each autistic and has brittle bone illness, they initially fear for his or her son’s future. However with Scott’s rising religion and Austin’s unbelievable spirit, they turn out to be “unbreakable,” discovering pleasure, gratitude, and braveness even in essentially the most making an attempt occasions — a rare true story a few father and son studying collectively that day-after-day may be the most effective day of your life!
Evaluate: Religion-based movies typically get a foul rap. Many movies closely targeted on Christian themes get labeled and battle to garner mainstream consideration. Nonetheless, they’ll generally inform stunning tales which can be inclusive quite than damning of different religions. Like final yr’s Atypical Angels, additionally directed by Jon Gunn, The Unbreakable Boy tells an emotional and difficult true story of a younger boy whose challenges are an inspiration to these round them. Moderately than sugarcoat the story, The Unbreakable Boy delves into a few of the lowest factors within the lives of the title character and his dad and mom, performed by Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy, in a narrative that deserves to be referred to as inspirational. Managing to hit all the correct emotional notes with out hitting the viewer over the pinnacle with spiritual propaganda, The Unbreakable Boy is a crowd-pleaser that may have audiences of all ages wiping tears from their eyes.
Based mostly on the memoir of the identical title, The Unbreakable Boy stars Zachary Levi as Scott LeRette, a medical gross sales rep who nonetheless has an imaginary buddy named Joe (Drew Powell). Scott meets Teresa (Meghann Fahy), whom he immediately falls for. Teresa shares with Scott that she has osteogenesis imperfecta (aka brittle bone illness), which comes into their lives when she turns into pregnant with their son Austin. As Austin (Jacob Laval) grows up and breaks his bones again and again, additionally they be taught that he’s on the autism spectrum. Whereas they’ve a second son, Logan (Gavin Warren), elevating Austin turns into a anxious job for Scott and Teresa as medical payments start to mount together with stress from understanding the distinctive manner Austin perceives the world round him. A lot of the movie happens throughout Austin’s center college years when the LeRette clan faces their most troublesome period.
A lot of The Unbreakable Boy focuses on Scott and his issue elevating a baby with particular wants. Scott can also be an alcoholic, which provides one other stage of stress to his marriage with Teresa. That Austin, or Auz-Man as he likes to be referred to as, repeatedly breaks bones beneath Scott’s much less than-watchful eye makes it much more troublesome for the household to remain united. Teresa seeks solace in a neighborhood church led by Preacher Rick (Peter Facinelli). On the identical time, Scott drowns his sorrows in liquor and infrequently the help of Joe and Scott’s dad and mom (Patricia Heaton and Todd Terry). Narrated by Austin, The Unbreakable Boy offers us the younger protagonist’s perspective on his household, which is stuffed with unadulterated love. He additionally sheds perception into the challenges these on the spectrum face that they can not even clarify. This presents some mildly disturbing moments that resonated with me as a father of a kid on the spectrum.
All through the movie, we see how others understand Austin, together with classmates who should not variety to the child within the jester hat who likes to cite Jack Nicholson’s monologue from A Few Good Males. Seeing these with kindness of their hearts and people with out and the way they work together with Austin is a stark reminder of what individuals on the spectrum face every day. Not one of the occasions are exterior of The Unbreakable Boy‘s PG score vary, however they’re realistically portrayed. A few of these moments really feel just like one other Lionsgate movie, Surprise, which adopted a baby with a bodily distinction quite than a psychological one. In each movies, the sense of goodness overcoming something is current and leaves you feeling good by the tip. The Unbreakable Boy poses questions everybody asks about autism, together with the largest one: why? This movie is just not a documentary or a science expose, nor does it attempt to clarify or justify autism remedies, however it does present a take a look at the emotional impression it will probably have.
The Unbreakable Boy was filmed again in late 2020 and has sat on the shelf because it was pulled from its 2022 launch date. Author/director Jon Gunn (The Case for Christ, Jesus Revolution) started manufacturing on his subsequent movie, American Underdog, with star Zachary Levi mere weeks after wrapping this movie. Based mostly on Scott LeRette’s e-book The Unbreakable Boy: A Father’s Worry, a Son’s Braveness, and a Story of Unconditional Love, Gunn makes use of the same method as his 2024 movie Atypical Angels to inform a narrative about religion with out including overt Christian context. A humorous second on the finish of the movie mocks extra hardline faith-based movies, however The Unbreakable Boy makes only a few spiritual references. There are two temporary scenes in a church or chapel and a few passing references to God, however nothing is related to Austin’s prognosis. Gunn and Levi have good chemistry because the star and director, permitting the movie to inform a feel-good and inspirational story with out clogging in cliches. The solid approaches this story as considered one of brightness and hope; you are feeling it come via if you watch it.
With strong lead performances from Zachary Levi and Meghann Fahy and a powerful flip from younger Jacob Laval, The Unbreakable Boy is a solidly crafted film that hits all the correct emotional notes to encourage you. There are occasions when Jon Gunn dangers pushing his movie into cliche territory. Nonetheless, he retains the film solidly targeted on showcasing Scott and Austin’s distinctive relationship and the way the youthful LeRette confirmed his father find out how to respect the particular manner he views the world. There is no such thing as a cause I can see why this film sat on the shelf for a number of years. I additionally hope the faith-based label doesn’t detract audiences from giving this film an opportunity. As a guardian of a kid on the spectrum, it is a fantastic film to glimpse what it’s prefer to dwell in a world that these with autism perceive in their very own distinctive manner.
The Unbreakable Boy might be launched Solely In Theaters on February twenty first.
