I hadn't heard of this feature until it got prominently advertised recently on Netflix. It turns out to have been a sleeper hit. Not sure what to expect, I picked it mainly so I wouldn't spend long deciding.
In the present South, young adult Zak (Zack Gottsagen) has been restricted to an assisted living facility, because he has Down syndrome and his family lost patience caring for him. After several attempts, he escapes, hoping to make his way to a faux-wrestling school run by "the Salt Water Redneck" (Thomas Haden Church) as advertised on old videotapes, despite having no money. While Zak hides in a motorboat, Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a crabber who has committed enough offenses to make serious enemies of his rivals (John Hawkes and Yelawolf), takes the boat for a getaway before noticing Zak. Since the school is en route to Tyler's destination, he grudgingly allows Zak to travel with him. As you probably guessed, the grudge passes.
The third main character is Eleanor (Dakota Johnson), Zak's assigned caregiver. She does honestly worry about him, but after catching up, she starts to have second thoughts of taking him back where he doesn't want to go. She and Tyler also develop feelings for each other -- rather shallowly, I'm afraid. Tyler's enemies, OTOH, get no kinder.
I am relieved to say that Zak does not have nearly as severe a case of intellectual disability as he could have (the makers may have taken a tip from Kirk Lazarus). He does gain skills even before reaching the pro wrestling instructor, suggesting that the ALF is a poor place to foster personal growth. And while comedy is among the genres, his deficits are not played for laughs.
As far as we know, Zak does not go pro, but the ending is hopeful enough. Indeed, the story seldom becomes remotely unpredictable. It is at best comfort food and at worst pap. Still better than the I Am Sam-like ordeal I once dreaded.
No comments:
Post a Comment