The Peanut Butter Falcon

I have seen The Peanut Butter Falcon before, around the time it was released. But I rewatched it again yesterday and saw it under a completely different light. I quite enjoy when this happens, when I discover something completely new about a film I have already seen, even coming away from it with a newfound appreciation for it. I think this is a rather overlooked film, even. Coming out not too long ago but never quite catching much of an audience. One of the last fun, wholesome, and mini adventure films to come out in a while, around the same time that comedies stopped having so much of a presence in the cinema and superhero films really began to take off. If you watch The Peanut Butter Falcon, it's like entering a different era of Hollywood, a simple story with some relatively simple values that handle the struggles of loss and self-discovery. It is almost a rarity to see something like these days, something that doesn't throw it in your face, but manages to convey everything anyway. Perhaps, even one of the last real Shia LaBeouf films before he went and disappeared from the industry a little.

I really like films like this, which seem to just come and go. They tell simple stories but ones of adventure and human spirit. Managing to capture the essence of humanity in our struggles and pursuits of happiness. How we learn from the unexpected interactions we have with others, and how our past may influence our futures as we are reminded of those who once influenced us. This is ultimately what The Peanut Butter Falcon is about, with an adventure deep in the heart of Georgia thrown into it. A test of character, but nothing too crazy. And of course, with a runtime that really expects your time, and gives itself just enough time to tell the story it needs to, before sailing off into the sunset. From here, I already recommend watching the film. As mentioned, it is at least the second time I have seen it, but I believe I may have even seen it more than twice.

While the film is about adventure and going out of your comfort zone to seek what is missing in life, the film also strongly refers to the importance of family values, and the loss of family that leads to broken people. Our main protagonist is a bit of lone wolf, running from the law and living in the dense woodland and fishing in the rivers that run through. Trying to get by selling crabs he catches with stolen equipment. Our second main character is ultimately the total opposite: a young man with down syndrome that has essentially been thrown in with the elderly in a home, with very little of a life, he's stuck inside barely living, only really gaining inspiration from the television. He aims to break out of this place, to go on an adventure and find some experiences in life. Breaking out, he inevitably comes across the path of our lonesome fisherman. This is where two different worlds collide a bit, creating a dynamic in which the two don't get along at all, arguing and clashing at every turn.

But this film is about the past, the loss of an older brother. Our protagonist typically hides from people, but is forced to take responsibility and essentially become the big brother he once had, but lost. Learning to show empathy and teach skills to someone. These two characters start to flourish together through their ups and downs. I really like this story due to this, the way it shows different backgrounds coming together, and how the characters change to be better. Looking into past trauma the way it can influence us in different ways. With the two roaming through the isolated landscapes, it really is just them getting to know each other through different conversations. Their interactions necessary to pass the time and to ease the burden of being with each other through difficult lands. Of course, growing quite fond of each other.

To add to this is the cinematography. Often enough wide perspectives that show the two traversing through the lands. Or up-close, fixed perspectives that we see them navigating through, much like a theatrical performance as the actor may roam the space upon the stage. It's a pretty simple style, but I think it really works for the film. It's slow, dimly lit in many instances. But it works so well in telling this story, and certainly won't manage to bore you with it. If you have seen Swiss Army Man, I would say it has some similarities in charm, perhaps a little less creative and more artistic in comparison. This is alongside a more gentle score, which you don't quite notice really. I think it's a nice viewing over a Sunday, something to relax to that is generally quite wholesome, but not too long. Something that has a little bit of artistic charm to it, but again nothing too serious. The kind of thing you would throw on to wind down to.

Shia's performance is of course great, but I'd say all of the performances are what makes it. It has a relatively small cast, and that's because it doesn't need a lot of characters for what it wants to say. The few characters that are present each have their own additions to the story which sets up the future events or contributes somehow. No character feels as if they overstayed their welcome. I find this a bit of a rarity these days, especially with a smaller cast in which the actors aren't exactly massive, aside from our lead. It's how an indie film should be made, in my opinion. Giving the smaller actors a chance, a few big names here and there, but enough balance that it doesn't feel distracting at any moment.

If you haven't seen this film yet, I definitely recommend it. Chances are, it went under your radar since its release in 2019. But I think it's really worth your time, and I'm sure you'll come out of it having enjoyed it. It's values are ones that promote community, showing how isolation can lead to harm, and that sometimes we can just open up and find ourselves around new people. Those we may never really notice otherwise. A story on growing up and giving back the lessons you managed to learn from, that were once passed down. Taking responsibility, and moving on.