There’s much that’s broken in ‘Unbreakable Boy’
For a faith-based movie, “The Unbreakable Boy” is admirably irreverent at times, even gritty when issues of addiction and suicide arise. But as a person on the autism spectrum, I mostly found writer-director Jon Gunn’s adaptation of Scott LeRette’s memoir about raising a neurodivergent child to be out of touch.
Often pandering and cloying, the entry produced by Lionsgate’s Kingdom Story Company (“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”) promotes the concept that autism is something that needs fixing, divides families and triggers violence. In most cases, nothing could be further from the truth. I found it insulting and counterproductive. But what bothered me most was casting a neurotypical actor to portray Scott LeRette’s teenage son, Austin. It’s not like there aren’t young thespians on the spectrum. See Jason Katims’ tragically underseen “As We See It” as proof.
It’s a fault accentuated by Jacob Laval’s attempts to emulate Austin, going overboard with the emoting and camera mugging. His performance lacks authenticity and rarely ventures beyond exhibiting awkward social skills and reacting to sensory overload. The only time I could relate was during an excellent scene in which Austin is being driven to distraction by the sound of a backpack being repeatedly zipped and unzipped.
Not that Zachary Levi (“Chuck”) and Meghann Fahy (“White Lotus”) as Austin’s beleaguered parents, Scott and Teresa, present much better, at times signalling that Austin is more of a burden than a blessing. I was particularly aghast at the suggestion that Austin is the catalyst for Scott’s alcoholism and Teresa’s suicide attempt. Seriously? And lest I forget Austin is indirectly responsible for his little brother, Logan (Gavin Warren), being bullied.
As for Scott’s parents, Dick (Todd Terry, just 14 years younger than Levi) and Marcia (the too rarely seen Patricia Heaton), they are as clueless and ineffectual as grandparents can be. And what’s up with Scott and his audible conversations with his imaginary friend, Joe (Drew Powell)? Notably absent are any mentions of Scott possibly being on the spectrum? After all, autism is now believed to be hereditary.
I haven’t read Scott LeRette’s book, co-written by Susy Flory, but I suspect these errors and omissions are a result of Gunn’s misinterpretation. For he’s a writer-director who seems intent on stirring a reaction rather than encouraging empathy and understanding. He also can’t seem to decide if this is the story of a rocky marriage or a “disease-of-the-week” chronicle of autism and Austin’s other disorder, osteogenesis imperfecta, a birth defect that causes his bones to become brittle and easily break.
I’d like to think that OI would be of more concern to parents than autism. OI can be life-threatening, autism not so much. But the too-common sight of casts on the arms, legs and torso isn’t as cinematic as the dynamic traits of autism. As a result, Gunn oftimes forgets about OI, reminding us of its presence only when it suits the plot.
Blessedly, the spiritual allusions are subtle, rendering the film accessible to non-believers. And it’s a nice touch that the family’s pastor (Peter Facinelli) is also in Scott’s AA group, proving no one is infallible. That includes Levi, whose depiction of Scott veered toward smug and off-putting, vibes I do not detect in the real Scott LeRette, a warm and highly personable dad.
The movie version of him can be appalling, with Gunn shockingly downplaying Scott’s driving drunk with two children in the backseat of a speeding SUV. Teresa tends to concur, incredulously agreeing to move on from the troubling incident in a matter of weeks. Really?
It’s yet another example of Gunn’s failure to keep things real. For him, it’s all about the schmaltz. In his world, happy endings materialize out of thin air. Forced? I would say so. But then I’m a cynic. I’m also on the spectrum. And if I may speak for me and my brethren, I feel justified in stating we deserve a much more honorable depiction than this misguided treacle.
Movie review
The Unbreakable Boy
Rated: PG for strong thematic material, alcohol abuse, some violence and language
Cast: Zachary Levy, Meghann Fahy, Jacob Laval, Patricia Heaton, Gavin Warren, Peter Facinelli and Drew Powell
Director: Jon Gunn
Writer: Jon Gunn
Runtime: 109 minutes
Where: In theaters Feb. 21
Grade: D
