Jon Gunn’s “The Unbreakable Boy” pulls at the heartstrings of viewers, inviting them to reflect on their own lives. This film, which is based on a true story, follows Austin LeRette, a boy with autism and brittle bone disease, whose optimism inspires the lives around him, specifically his father, Scott LeRette.
“The Unbreakable Boy” is raw and emotionally powerful. It does a great job of addressing mental health and spreading awareness of the challenges a family faces when raising a child with disabilities. This film does a great job of placing the audience in this family’s shoes, so the viewers experience the family’s ups and downs firsthand.
The performances in “The Unbreakable Boy” stand out. Jacob Laval’s energetic display as Austin makes it impossible not to root for him. Meghann Fahy’s energy while playing Teresa LeReette brought a natural warmth to the screen and added a lot of heart to the film. Zachary Levi does a solid job as Scott, bringing authenticity to his role.
The film adds depth by focusing on Scott’s personal battle with alcohol, but, sadly, this causes the focus to shift too much away from Austin’s story. While Scott’s issues are important, the film loses the story’s main draw, Austin’s journey, losing its chance to be truly impactful. “The Unbreakable Boy” should have emphasized Austin’s point of view, showing his struggles and experiences more authentically. Instead of focusing on Austin’s story, the narrative moves towards a more conventional family drama.
Movies like this never tend to fully commit to their message, resulting in “The Unbreakable Boy” not hitting every mark. With that said, this movie will still resonate with families and teach valuable lessons to those who can relate to its themes of resilience, love and overcoming adversity.
“The Unbreakable Boy” is currently playing at multiple San Antonio theatres; check local listings for more details on available showtimes.
English
Spanish