Nick Offerman’s Ron Swanson character on “Parks & Recreation” mattered on two ranges.
His Libertarian screeds countered Leslie Knope’s wide-eyed liberalism. That gave audiences a uncommon, optimistic portrayal of a small-government voice.
And, deep down, Ron cared about his pals and associates. Deeply.
Now, think about if Offerman’s GIF machine leaned to this point into his anti-government shtick he couldn’t produce a driver’s license throughout a visitors cease.
That’s the place Offerman lands in “Sovereign,” a miserable story of a real believer at odds with actuality. The tragic half? He’s a loving mother or father to a teen caught up in dad’s mania.
Jerry Kane (Offerman) is a stern father determine attempting to lift his son proper. Which means indoctrinating Joe (a wonderful Jacob Tremblay of “Room” fame) into his anti-government mindset. Offerman doesn’t shrink back from his character’s extremist views.
It’s the sort of centered flip that makes awards season voters sit upright. And deservedly so.
Jerry makes a nominal residing sharing his “sovereign citizen” beliefs. Is it sufficient to pay his mortgage? He doesn’t care. He insists he doesn’t must pay anybody for what’s rightfully his.
And he’ll spend 20 agonizing minutes explaining why.
That gained’t preserve the invoice collectors at bay or a roof over their heads, however Jerry is all the time a step or two forward of his enemies. Or no less than he thinks he’s.
In the meantime, Joe seems longingly at his cute neighbor and desires of attending highschool. “Sovereign” is the worst potential commercial for dwelling education.
A secondary story follows an area police chief (Dennis Quaid) welcoming his son (Thomas Mann) onto the drive. This father-son connection couldn’t be extra totally different than the principle story.
Or is it?
First-time director Christian Swegal leans into Jerry’s fanaticism however refuses to lecture audiences past that distorted worldview. Swegal avoids political tells or monologues meant to attach the motion – set within the early 2010s – to fashionable occasions.
Final yr’s Oscar-bait entry “The Order” confirmed related restraint till the movie’s last seconds.
Martha Plimpton shines as Jerry’s quasi-girlfriend, however the actress wanted an even bigger presence within the story. We’d additionally wish to learn the way Jerry grew to become such a real believer. We find out about his private ache later within the story, but it surely hardly explains his fevered method to the world.
He’s a totally fashioned monster by the point we first meet him.
New film “Sovereign” seeks to humanize the sovereign citizen motion: https://t.co/OaiK3Q13XO
— Dr. Christine Sarteschi, LCSW (@DrSarteschi) June 10, 2025
“Sovereign” opens with occasions that happen on the finish of the movie after which circles again to the start. We all know this story gained’t have a rosy end, however telegraphing it so bluntly is a horrible alternative. The movie’s “coming of age” part additionally comes up brief.
Filmmakers refuse to inform tales that talk to information ignored by Legacy Media retailers. Think about films spun from the “Summer time of Love” riots or Antifa, for instance.
Inconceivable!
This story is catnip to Hollywood sorts. It aligns with their worldview, suggesting fringe gamers (Qanon! MAGA Gone Wild!) loom giant over society. They don’t.
That doesn’t rob “Sovereign” of its haunting energy or the tractor pull of Offerman’s efficiency. He’s a person obsessed and a loyal father multi function.
That duality is greater than sufficient to make “Sovereign” value a glance.
HiT or Miss: “Sovereign” takes Ron Swanson to the woodshed in a harrowing story of a disturbed dad pushing his son to the sting.