Parenthood isn’t for the faint of coronary heart.
Sleepless nights. Sudden sicknesses. Payments atop payments. The Horrible Twos (and threes).
The dad and mom on the coronary heart of “The Unbreakable Boy” face two further layers to household life. Their lovely son is autistic and suffers from “brittle bone” illness.
Their fact-based journey fuels a sobering take a look at parenthood. Sure, the “Oz Man” is the guts of the movie, however Zachary Levi’s character gives an inspirational take a look at a flawed however fearless guardian.
The charming courtship of Scott (Zachary Levi) and Teresa (Meghann Fahy, “The White Lotus”) will get an surprising jolt. She’s pregnant, and the couple decides to maneuver in collectively to care for his or her child.
That’s Austin (Jacob Laval, wonderful), an lovely lad with dueling medical situations. He’s autistic, one thing the budding couple didn’t understand for a while. He additionally inherited his mom’s genetic situation leaving him vulnerable to damaged bones.
It occurs so typically that Austin’s narration ticks them off like minor achievements.
It’s sufficient to go away any guardian woozy, Scott included. He’s comforted in two wildly other ways. He has an imaginary buddy from his childhood named Joe (Drew Powell), a storytelling gimmick that shouldn’t work however typically does, and superbly so.
And Scott drinks when the stress turns into insurmountable.
The latter causes probably the most issues, naturally, and it’s a technique “Unbreakable Boy” disappoints. Scott’s descent into alcoholism is simply too tidy and inconsistent to generate dramatic stress. The movie’s PG score retains some grit off-screen, an comprehensible strategy given the story’s feel-good bona fides.
Audiences of all ages will savor Austin’s joie de vivre.
We all know Levi principally for candy, outsized roles (assume “Shazam!), however he delivers an understated flip as a guardian in disaster. A lot of his ache is internalized, which makes these appearing choices clever.
Director Jon Gunn (“Atypical Angels”), in flip, wrangles the tonal shifts with authority. It’s OK to relish Austin’s flights of fancy whereas processing his dad and mom’ worry he’ll find yourself again within the hospital.
Or worse.
Patricia Heaton deserves extra display screen time as Scott’s mom, a no-nonsense kind who looms massive over his psyche. She’s maternal but chilly, a mixture that might have been explored in a extra nourishing trend.
Peter Facinelli additionally feels underserved as Preacher Rick, a relaxing affect on Scott’s life. The “Twilight” alum gives the movie’s faith-kissed parts, a touch at how religion turns into probably the most invaluable aspect in Scott’s potential salvation.
Different story arcs ship surprising outcomes, just like the bully focusing on Austin’s youthful brother (Gavin Warren).
Sure, “The Unbreakable Boy’ hits some predictable notes, nevertheless it does so with consistency and coronary heart. Credit score younger Laval for holding the movie collectively. Had his efficiency been too sticky-sweet this “Boy” would maintain us at arm’s distance.
That’s hardly the case on this candy and soulful drama.
HiT or Miss: “The Unbreakable Boy” has its flaws, however the joys of watching a vibrant lad encourage family and friends alike greater than make up for them.