The Peanut Butter Falcon

This is one of those charming, quietly adventurous movies that sneaks up on you. "The Peanut Butter Falcon" follows a young man with Down syndrome, Zak, who escapes his care home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler, eventually teaming up with an outlaw played by Shia LaBeouf. The film unfolds along the rivers and backwoods of the American South, blending a Mark Twain-style journey with modern themes of inclusion and friendship.

What really stood out to me was the chemistry between the leads, especially between Zak (played by Zack Gottsagen) and Shia LaBeouf’s character. Their oddball, heartfelt friendship feels genuine without tipping into cliché, and Dakota Johnson also brings warmth to her role as Zak’s caregiver. The Southern landscape forms its own character—sunny swamps, dusty roads, and a sense of freedom and possibility.

The plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking, and if you’re after big action set pieces or intricate plotting, you might find it a little slow in places. That said, for anyone who loves road movies and stories about unlikely companionship, this is a gentle, feel-good adventure that does what it sets out to do with a lot of heart.