The Unbreakable Boy is based on a true story from the memoir of Scott LeRette titled The Unbreakable Boy: A Father’s Fear, a Son’s Courage and a Story of Unconditional Love.
The film stars Zachary Levi as Scott, a regular guy who meets a woman named Teresa, played by Meghann Fahy. Together, the two have two sons: Austin, played by Jacob Laval, and Logan, played by Gavin Warren. Their life is changed when Austin is diagnosed with autism and Osteogenesis Imperfecta, otherwise known as Brittle Bone Disease. The film follows Scott as he struggles to connect with his son who, despite his physical situation, still holds a positive outlook on life.
The two standout performances in the film are from Laval and Fahy. Laval, who is on the spectrum himself, brings a fun energy to role of Austin both on screen and in the vast amount of narration he has through out the film. His performance makes me wonder whether the film may have worked better had he been the central focus of the story.
Meanwhile, Fahy gives the best performance of the film. Her star really rose after appearing in season 2 of The White Lotus — which earned her an Emmy nomination — and she brings that acting talent to every scene she's in. If I had to identify one of the weaknesses of the film, it would be the script, but Fahy can elevate her scenes with her dynamic facial performance. She displays such emotion with just her face -- you can’t take your eyes off her when she’s on screen.
Levi’s performance is more of a mixed bag. Generally known for more lighthearted roles, he steps out of his wheelhouse a bit here as Scott. The moments when Scott is being the fun-loving dad, Levi excels, but in more dramatic scenes, his performance doesn’t quite get to where it needs to be.
The film touches on a lot of deeper themes and messages but is a little too heavy handed when it comes to relaying them to the audience. I also think the film could have benefited from a longer run time. Clocking in at one hour and 50 minutes, it feels like the film left some important parts on the cutting room floor, particularly a key moment with Scott that the film had been building towards.
Overall, the performances from Laval and Fahy really carry the film, and I am hoping to see both pop up in more projects going forward. While I understand the inspiration of the story is rooted in Scott’s perspective, I hope going forward we start to see these types of stories from the perspective of those with autism. ~Ryan Donahue
3 out of 5 stars.
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