A young man with Down syndrome (Zack Gottsagen) runs away from his nursing home to follow his dream of becoming a wrestler. Almost immediately, he encounters a man on the run (Shia LaBeouf) and they team up for a “road trip” that takes place mostly on the water (at one point, their raft clearly harkens back to Mark Twain’s travelers). This is Gottsagen’s movie. His big personality and endless enthusiasm create delight in every scene. In addition, LaBoef once more exposes the depth of his considerable talent. There’s also a parade of quirky Southern supporting roles that add humorous character touches. While the narrative is not completely grounded in reality, the sweet relationship that develops, along with Gottsagen’s spunky charm make this a mildly quirky, but immensely appealing buddy picture. BTW, it’s supposed to take place in the Outer Banks (and even mentions Richmond), but it was actually shot in Georgia. (Criterion Cinemas only)
(3.5 / 5)