User reviews

When I'm writing this 20% of the reviews are 1 star, which is insane. The only explanation is there are narrow minded people that only see Zac Levi's political comments and decided that was enough to trash the movie. I'm pretty sure they didn't even see it, because if they had then they defeated their intention because the $$ spent means more than the 1 star.

They also ignore all the other great actors who put in fantastic performances.

Jacob Laval puts in a stellar performance. His manic delivery of dialogue was wonderfully done as were his facial expressions. Pretty impressive for his age.

I had not seen Meghann Fahy before in a lead role, but now I'm going to be looking for things she's done in the past and future. She was rememberable in her performance as "T".

The supporting cast were excellent complement. Patricia Heaton and Amy Acker delivered as always performances that made scenes work.

I can only hope that people are wise enough to look at the rating distribution and realize there are haters and ignore the composite rating.

The Unbreakable Boy was Cinemark's Monday Mystery Movie on February 17. It is an upcoming biographical drama film written and directed by Jon Gunn (the director of last year's Ordinary Angels). It is based on the non-fiction book "The Unbreakable Boy: A Father's Fear, a Son's Courage, and a Story of Unconditional Love," by Scott Michael LeRette and Susy Flory. I'll be honest, even though I'd figured out what the movie would probably be, I wasn't hugely excited about it; I was more in the mood for a rated R film (like the mystery movie being shown at AMC on the same day). However, by the time the film was done, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It tells the story of Austin, an autistic child with brittle bone disease. Austin is a joyful character who sees magic and wonder in the normal, everyday things of life. However, the focus of the film is more on the struggles his parents and younger brother face as they try to navigate how to best care for this child in the midst of the seemingly never-ending challenges created by issues beyond his control. Some people who have already seen this seem to feel it was a bit disrespectful to focus more on Austin's parents instead of him, but this personally worked well for me on multiple levels, because with a person like Austin, they are not the only person affected by their issues. Things like brittle bone disease and autism in particular affect *everyone* around that person. So it seemed only fitting that we also see the struggles his parents went through as they tried their best to care for their son. I enjoyed the balance of humor and sadness as his parents - especially his father - transition from trying to find ways to fix things about Austin that simply can't be fixed to realizing and appreciating that the unmitigated joy Austin has for life (and loving the people around him unconditionally) are lessons they can learn from him themselves. It also helped his father come to terms with the realization that there is nothing really broken about his son after all. While there are faith-based undertones to the film, it isn't anything that felt clunky or ham-fisted in its delivery, and for me it worked well (just like how it worked well for last year's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) It's a PG film, so it is suited for all audiences, though there are some darker themes that are touched on such as alcoholism and a fractured family. However, the movie handles those themes well. Video review available on my YouTube channel.

Is a heart-shifting journey that opened my eyes to the deep, often misunderstood world of autism. What touched me most was the father's transformation-from confusion and frustration to profound understanding and unconditional love. The film doesn't just tell a story; it invites you into the emotional and psychological awakening of a parent who learns to truly see his son for who he is: unique, gifted, and invincible in his own way. Spiritually, it's uplifting, showing how acceptance and compassion can transcend fear. It taught me that sometimes, the real miracle is learning to listen with the heart and embrace a different kind of brilliance.

Not sure who thought this book should be a movie. The dad is a weirdo alcoholic who talks to himself and the mom is an unemployed video game addict who complains about money and hates doing chores. The actors they cast for the parents look nothing like the actual people and are not believable in their roles as weirdo but good-looking parents. The script was weak, Austin was annoying, and the moral of the story was a muddled blob of nothingness that fell flat. I see why this movie was shelved for a few years. It ahould've stayed on the shelf permanently. It's basically a corny Lifetime movie with nothing to really say.

Is one of those rare films that deeply moves you-emotionally and spiritually. Watching the journey of this extraordinary child, who defies every limitation placed upon him, awakens something powerful within. The film touches on themes of trauma, resilience, and the incredible strength of the human spirit. As someone who has faced personal emotional battles, I found this story deeply healing. It's not just about overcoming adversity; it's about inner transformation, faith, and the profound impact of love and belief. Psychologically, it offers insight into how nurturing environments and emotional connection can change a life. It's truly a soul-stirring experience.

Austin, a kid with a rare brittle bone disease as well as autism, is supposed to be lovable, funny, and inspiring, a la the kid in "Wonder," but unfortunately is mostly just annoying. The film is essentially a story of a marriage, from before Austin's birth when his parents first meet through Austin's middle school years, with the dad along the way coping with alcoholism and receiving homespun advice from his imaginary friend, Joe, and a pastor. That this is based on a real family seems to explains why the creators thought this might be a good subject for a film. Raising a child with autism is a great topic for a film but this hokey fake mess is disappointingly lacking in genuine humor or drama.

I saw the unbreakable boy today. I wondered what everybody else thought about it after I saw the movie. I was surprised to see so many low rating reviews. While this is not a movie that has jaw dropping moments and us predictable. It's incredibly inspiring, and everyone can relate to the movie. It shows the struggles of a family dealing with really hard things which many of us go through hard things even in our normal healthy families I urge everyone to see it. You can learn from it. You can show Hollywood, we want more films like this by your attendance AMC Stubbs Tuesday night free membership six dollars everyone can afford That. Please see it.

A young boy with both a rare brittle-bone disease and autism. But what makes him truly unique is his joyous, funny, life-affirming world view that transforms and unites everyone around him. I thought it was such uplifting story and heartfelt. Someone with autism such as myself, I can understand what is going through. I love how they explain all the dad's flaws in a realistic way and it also explains the mom's flaws. Warning: Austin's extreme autism may be too intense for young children 12+. Overall I loved the movie but It was a little emotional sometimes so I recommend to prepare to cry so I rate it 10/10.

UNBREAKABLE BOY is an incredibly sweet and inspiring film based on the true story of an extraordinary boy and his family as they navigate through challenging times in a memorable way. The dynamics of the Gun family are beautifully portrayed, showcasing both their obstacles and triumphs with humor, heart, and grace.

Young Austin, owning the affectionate nickname of Auz Man, is an optimistic and beautiful soul despite dealing with brittle bone disease and being on the Autism Spectrum. Scott, the father, displays a vulnerability that I deeply appreciate, while Teresa, the mother, exudes a remarkable inner strength. And younger brother Tyler, who holds a quieter role but oh so sweet, possesses an innate wisdom!

The film is filled with heart-wrenching moments, laugh-out-loud scenes, and instances that will bring you to tears. The relatable and quirky family discovers that climbing proverbial mountains together can lead to the biggest and sweetest blessings.

A quote from the film, "I wish I could love anything as much as Austin loves everything," perfectly captures the essence of this story. Austin probably doesn't even realize the power he holds, showing pure examples of acceptance, compassion, empathy, forgiveness, and love.

This uplifting film features unforgettable characters and soul-touching messages of faith, growth, and unconditional love. Have a tissue ready, as it might bring tears to your eyes. Don't miss the pictures and descriptions of the real-life characters at the end of the film!

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

While Austin does have more character than Music, feels a bit less like an autism stereotype, and has no real offensive scene (e.g. Prone restraint) except for maybe that one scene where Austin gets the wrong medication and goes ballistic, the movie as a whole still suffers from many of the problems Music had.

The most glaring issue being that the plot focuses more on the parent/caretaker becoming sober than it does about the challenges and uniqueness of being autistic. Not only is this a plot that hits all the beats you would expect from an addiction film, but it takes away the spotlight from what the movie's title is supposedly supposed to be about, the autistic kid.

The second, and this is a bit less of an issue compared to Music, but still a problem, is that the autistic character doesn't feel like a real character. Granted, they do try a little more with giving Austin characteristics outside of his autism (he's talkative and cheerful), but he still doesn't feel like an actual complex human being with motivations, an arc, and depth. And this goes back to the movie not really being about him. The quirks, emotions, and meltdowns he exhibits lack meaning and we have little reason to connect with this character as we don't really see from his perspective. And yes, even the narration feels flat.

The other characters also suffer from the same problem as Austin, yes, even the protagonist (Zachary Levi) feels one-note. All he has about him is his alcoholism. The characters have nothing special about them other than having a few funny and heartwarming moments. Zachary Levi's character also has a strange hallucinatory friend that pops in out of nowhere to support him from time and time and that's all he does. The only character I actually tolerated is Logan, who doesn't even do much in this film. He wants to help his bully, which is a nice quality to have. Unfortunately, his problem gets solved Dharr Man style.

The only consistent positive thing I have to say about it is the acting of everyone. They did what they were given, they were emotionally compelling enough, and they help us connect a little more to the characters and their emotions despite the glaring script. Austin even has speech problems which is a common thing for us autistic folks.

I can see why this film was shelved after the controversy of Music and frankly, it should've stayed shelved. And before you ask, I do recognize this is based on a true story that was written from the father's perspective. I'm aware of that. However, I have not read the book so I do not know how much of this is true.

After three years of delays, "The Unbreakable Boy" was finally released, and I didn't know what to expect. I haven't read the original book or heard about the real-life events that inspired it, which means it could've gone either way. I'm glad that it went in a powerful and entertaining direction.

To start, all of the performances were strong. The core family the movie focuses on is portrayed fantastically and effectively by Zachary Levi, Meghann Fahy, Gavin Warren, and especially a phenomenal Jacob Laval as Austin. These characters needed to be believable for this movie to work, and I felt the actors (mostly) succeeded with this task.

Jon Gunn's directing was incredibly inspiring. I don't think it's as ambitious as his previous effort, "Ordinary Angels," but he did an exceptional job making this narrative work. His screenplay also enhances the investment I had in the characters.

With the central plot revolving around Austin, who has brittle bone disease and autism, I can only imagine how difficult it was to portray it. I felt like the team depicted Austin with care, and I learned more about these conditions than I would have, although I understand this is a film. Either way, this movie does a nice job of showcasing how people with autism and brittle bone disease might be considered different, but they can inspire optimism and joy in others. It makes for a feel-good story that moved me.

For the final positive, the pacing was solid. I felt it never drags, and I was always interested in seeing where the story would go next.

Unfortunately, as much as I tried to overlook them, some issues are plain as day.

To start, not to spoil anything, the film isn't concentrated entirely on Austin. It's divided between him and his father, Levi's Scott. Scott faces numerous struggles, one of which is trying to understand Austin. Unfortunately, many moments make Scott incredibly unlikeable. The movie chronicles a potential redemption story for him, but some of his actions distract from what should be a very inspirational story. The opening scene alone should give you an idea of why this is a problem. He's not entirely disagreeable, but several things he does infuriated me, and parents who see this will probably feel the same way.

The other two issues are minimal, more like aspects I have mixed feelings about. A side character in Drew Powell's Joe doesn't justify his existence until halfway through the movie, which is weird. I enjoyed his inclusion, but until that mid-point section, he felt pointless. The other problem is that although it stuck the landing, it happened after three other potential conclusions, which is odd. That's about it for the negatives, thankfully.

It's not perfect, but critics are unjustifiably harsh to "The Unbreakable Boy." Briefly reading into why, I'm baffled that it didn't connect with critics. It contains flaws, but not enough to call it a bad or mediocre movie - far from it.

Technically, the acting, directing, and screenplay make for a 9/10 technical score. Admittedly, one moment contained out-of-place, bad CGI, which took me out of it, but outside of that, nothing's technically wrong with this film.

The enjoyment score: the flaws are hard to ignore, but it remains a delightful time. Therefore, the enjoyment score is a 9/10. It's hard to call it an easy watch, but it's an eye-opening one worth watching!

This is not about a boy. Which makes it feel practically like false advertisement, considering that the trailer suggests otherwise. In fact, I'd say that the trailer has covered most of the highlights where the boy was, indeed, the focus. There are only a couple more scenes besides that.

So what's the movie is about really? I think it tried to be about a couple, at first, but then it became more about the father, and mostly him. There is a reason for this "pivot", if you can call it that, but it did not feel fair, to be honest, since it made the story somewhat one-sided.

Even if that can still be acceptable, I can't say the movie has much impact. It felt shallow for the most part. A lot of stuff is being told, not really shown (not talking about narration), which does not help with establishing connection with either of the characters. Important topics are often times touched in somewhat cliched ways, too, but life is a cliche in itself, so that's not a failure in itself. It's just that darker themes still were "too bright", too "upbeat".

Perhaps the running time of a movie was the constraint here. The story is spanning multiple years, after all, and on paper it has quite a few situations, that should stir emotions. But due to lack of time there is simply not enough room to build up to them and dramatize them properly. I think it might have worked better as a TV show similar to TV adaptation of "About A Boy", where the story was also not really so much about a boy (contrary to the title), but about him building connection and changing lives of others, including his mother and neighbor.

Alas, that's not what we have. It's not a complete waste of time, but I do no think it delivers, what it set out to.

This movie is one I've already reviewed on my YouTube channel, and you've probably already seen my review anyway if you're on this IMDb page, but this movie is simply abysmal. Marketing a movie off of an autistic child as a means to just make the dad's "inspirational" story get out there is just despicable. This movie is based on the story of Scott Lerette, an "autism dad" who hosts a blog called Austintistic that has been awarded by Autism Speaks, and the dad himself is a known supporter of Autism Speaks. He also is the executive producer of the film studio that made this movie. Just a propaganda piece through and through. Austin, the autistic boy here, exists as nothing more than a prop the dad tries to use to lift himself up. I hate it so much. Hollywood needs to do better.

JUST SAW THIS MOVIE REALLY AN UNEXPECTED FILM THAT BECAME AN INSTANT FAVORITE! WENT FOR THE POPCORN AND SODA ENDED UP A BEST FAVORITE FILM IVE SEEN OUT OF HUNDREDS. REALLY GREAT PERFORMANCES BY ALL THE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES... GREAT STORY AND ENJOYABLE. RECOMMEND MUST SEE! THE FILM WAS SO GOOD I FORGOT ABOUT THE POPCORN AND SODA NEVER LEFT MY SEAT. SEEMS LIKE THESE NEW MOVIES HAVE FOUND PLACES IN REAL PEOPLES LIVES THAT ARE PLAYED EXCELLENT PARTS JUST LIKE THE REAL PEOPLE BY THE ACTORS. I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE REAL LIFE SUTUATION THIS MOVIE PUTS YOU IN AND THE TRUE MEANING BEHIND HOW PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN SITUATIONS THAT MOST DONT COME TO KNOW. I GIVE IT 5/5 STARS.

The Unbreakable Boy is a touching family drama based on a true story. The film explores important themes of resilience, illness, and unconditional parental love, yet it fails to fully develop them.

Pros: The story is inspiring, and the protagonist is likable.

Strong performances, particularly from Zachary Levi as the father.

A warm and uplifting atmosphere that highlights the power of family and support.

Cons: The plot is predictable, and the screenplay feels shallow at times.

Lacks depth in character development-despite its potential, the story never reaches its full emotional impact.

Overly sentimental in places, relying on clichés rather than genuine drama.

Overall, The Unbreakable Boy is a decent family drama, but it lacks originality and depth to leave a lasting impression. It's worth a watch but unlikely to stay with you for long.

Movie The Unbreakable Boy directed by Jon Gunn is based on life of Austin (actor Jacob Laval ) his younger brother Logan (actor Gavin Warren) born to Teresa ( Meghann Fahy from the series Perfect Couple)and Scott (actor Zachary Levi). Teresa is blue eyed and has brittle bones ,symptoms of genetic disorder Osteogenesis imperfecta. Austin is born with brittle bones and also dx with Autism Austin loves his mom, dad and younger brother. Austin is capable of understanding and retaining information . Austin's constant banter at home and school is very well directed. His remarks made to Logan after Logan gets into a fight with Tyler have a big impact on family. Really enjoyed the pleasant interactions between father and son and also loving relationship and glances between Austin's mom and dad.

Screenplay is very realistic. Love filled home has a big impact on children's minds and is depicted very well. This movie is supposedly based on a true story of a family from Iowa . I am in awe of both mom and dad who showed love and honesty in a relationship can have healthy outcomes even if medical world and society label developmental delays.

I am glad i saw this movie which has reinforced importance of love in raising children to keep them stable and healthy.

Austin's happy thoughts and words in having his dad at home after dad loses his job and mom not having a job is extremely touching and realistic. There is no company better than a loving mom and dad as friends.

Good Editing. Good Direction. Excellent acting.

So relatable the moral compass aspect sometimes I feel cursed.

Lovely movie - first time I had an emergency IBS bathroom break a bit into in the film and I'm shocked someone left halfway through it's a magnificent one not a bad one at all. I have autism as well so I relate to the tantrums, ocd and being stuck on subjects although I don't have the bone structure disorder.

I remember it was supposed to be over 2 hours long before releasing I guess they cut numerous scenes works out for me cause I saw Monkey afterwards. I'm so glad there's more autism cinema out there I wish my kind would be more welcomed in the world!

The acting in this film was superb (great performances by all) and the true story was quite inspirational. There is a lot to this movie on multiple levels, from family dynamics to medical needs to social challenges. As a grandmother of a sweet girl with autism, I found this movie wonderful. Austin's uniqueness and joy is a great reminder that special kids are just that...special. (To the reviewer that thought he was annoying, I'm sad that you couldn't see that.) if you have a child with special needs...see this movie. If you don't, still see this movie and understand a little more of what these beautiful kids can bring to the table.

The young man who played Austin was brilliant, and the young man who played Logan skillfully captured his love and compassion for his brother.

This movie was very well-done. It was extremely easy to follow and the flashbacks did not interrupt the flow.

It was also eye-opening because viewers were given a glimpse of Austin's thought process. There was also the life lesson that involved a bully. How insightful it was for Austin to really see this young man.

What a joy it is to realize that Austin is so full of life. We should all be as optimistic as he is.

Bravo to the real-life family and to the wonderful cast!