The Unbreakable Boy (2025) Review

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“The Unbreakable Boy” Film Details

Runtime: 1 Hour and 49 Minutes
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Initially Available On/Via: Theatrical Release
Advisory Film Rating: Rated PG
Genre(s): Drama
Distributor(s): Lionsgate
Director(s): Jon Gunn
Writer(s): Jon Gunn
Based On Work By: Scott LeRette, Susy Flory

Summary

Before Scott met Teresa, he was all about his 5-year plan that was concocted with his best, and imaginary, friend Joe. However, after meeting Teresa and getting her pregnant with Austin, things changed. Add in Austin’s inherited brittle bone disease from Teresa and potentially autism from Scott, and that five-year plan had to be thrown out for Austin is a handful. He is precocious, an extreme extrovert, and, in addition to having a brother named Logan, this would be a lot for any parent, but especially Scott.

So, as we see Austin try to thrive in a world not initially designed for him, we also watch Scott try to adjust to a life he didn’t envision.

Character Descriptions

Scott (Zachary Levi)

Scott is a man who has focused his life on medical sales, but he did have dreams of going back to school and getting into marketing before starting a family.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Shazam! The Fury of the Gods.”

Teresa (Meghann Fahy)

Teresa, when she was younger, dreamed of being a dancer and really experiencing the world. However, with brittle bones disease, she had to adjust her life and then with having kids, her dreams had to change further.

• The actor is also known for their role in “The Bold Type.”

Joe (Drew Powell)

Joe is Scott’s imaginary friend who he sometimes pins his best and worst ideas on.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Hightown: Season 1 Episode 3.”

Austin (Jacob Laval)

Austin is Scott and Teresa’s son who has brittle bones disease like his mom, and considering some of Scott’s ticks and the way he stems, you could submit Scott may have passed the genomes that led to Austin having autism. But, undeterred by what others say, and how the world can seem foreign, Austin is social, caring, and while his energy can teeter between infectious and annoying, there is never a question of whether his heart is in the right place.

Logan (Gavin Warren)

Logan is Austin’s little brother who sometimes struggles with the attention Austin needs, but loves his brother and family nonetheless.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Night Swim.”

Review

Highlight(s)

Multiple Perspectives and Lives Focused On [84/100]

It could be easy to imagine with the trailer mainly focusing on Austin, it would be all about him, potentially to a point of him going from endearing to annoying. Thankfully, that isn’t the case. While not evenly spread throughout the cast, you do get a sense each person has their own story. Whether it is Logan who sometimes seems to be in his brother’s shadow, maybe embarrassed by him, but fighting those feelings because he loves him, or Teresa’s own struggles with brittle bones disease and being a stay at home mom.

For nearly everyone, not just Austin or Scott, there is a life being lived and challenges to face. Scott was raised in a somewhat traditional household, and when he hooked up with Teresa, he didn’t expect to get her pregnant on the first try, never mind you can see there was some dread to tell his mom he was going to have a baby out of wedlock. Add in the challenge he has of trying to be more than a financial provider, but actually in his kids lives and a supportive husband, and you see a unique journey onto itself.

Then, with the lead Austin, there is a mix of things. Yes, Austin is someone who is autistic, but as it explores how Austin exhibits this, it isn’t just in a quirky personality, a touch of OCD, and things like that. There is the challenge of him feeling unable to connect with his father, wanting to do things Logan can do, and yet being the most loving person in the room.

Altogether it is a reminder that even if one person in the family may need a bit more care than the others, it doesn’t mean they completely lose themselves to that one person or routine. They want more, deal with other things, and sometimes struggle with trying to do and be a good person, when all they may want is to be selfish.

It’s A Tearjerker, But Isn’t Exploitative [83/100]

With Teresa and Austin’s ailment, paired with what Scott goes through and Logan, it could be easy to imagine this film wants to be the kind of touching film that is sappy and baits you into tears. I wouldn’t say that. It presents to you a life with challenges, actors who know how to get on your good side, even if they sometimes annoy you, and ultimately, your investment is what leads to your emotional reaction.

It’s never cheap, it never exploits a character’s situation – it is all about giving you a person’s life, the highs and lows, and you wanting the best for them since they are clearly trying, and sometimes they succeed. But, everyone can’t win all the time.

Other Noteworthy Information

If Hesitant About The Faith Aspect

I know a lot of people who aren’t necessarily keen on films which include faith, but “The Unbreakable Boy” isn’t overwhelming or frustrating in that regard. Faith becomes a cornerstone for Scott, maybe Teresa to a point, but it is mainly in questioning God when things are bad and thanking God when things are good. Do the characters go to church? Yes. But you don’t have to sit through a sermon, hear verses, or nothing like that. “The Unbreakable Boy” just gives you general, people who believe in God, question their decisions or influence on things, but aren’t necessarily all about Jesus and speaking his name every other line.

Overall

Our Rating (83/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

“The Unbreakable Boy” is a uplifting film which shows the beauty of family, even in times of strife, and thankfully, while Austin narrates throughout, there is space and time given to most characters to allow them to flourish, and allow Austin to remain a special character in the film, rather than someone whose uniqueness feels exploited.

Content Information

• Dialog: Cursing (Mild – One Scene)
• Violence: Mild Violence
• Sexual Content: Nothing Notable
• Miscellaneous: Drinking

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