UNBREAKABLE BOY, THE

(director/writer: Jon Gunn; screenwriters: book by Scott LeRette & Susy Flory; cinematographer: Kristopher Kimlin; editor: Parker Adams; music: Pancho Burgos-Goizueta; cast: Zachary Levi (Scott LeRette), Meghann Fahy (Teresa), Jacob Laval (Austin at 13), Drew Powell (Joe), Gavin Warren (Logan at 11), Patricia Heaton (Maecia-Scott’s mom), Todd Terry (Dick-Scott’s dad), Peter Facinelli (Preacher Rick); Runtime: 109; MPAA Rating: PG; producers: Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Jerilyn Esquibel, Peter Facinelli, Andrew Erwin; Lionsgate; 2025)

“An insufferable but well-meaning feel-good drama.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The faith-based filmmaker Jon Gunn (“The Case for Christ”/”Ordinary Angels”) directs an insufferable but well-meaning feel-good drama about an upbeat 13-year-old boy with autism and a history of dealing with broken bones. It’s based on the 2014 non-fiction book by Scott LeRette & Susy Flory, that’s based on actual events.

The Oklahoma residing Scott LeRette (Zachary Levi) is the father and Teresa (Meghann Fahy) the mother of the middle school student Austin, nicknamed Aus-Man (Jacob Laval), who is autistic and was born with the genetic disease making his bones fragile, osteogenesis imperfecta.

Scott is an alcoholic, which threatens the marriage, and the family’s financial situation. He also has an imaginary friend he calls Joe (Drew Powell), who he talks to when looking for answers. Despite his short-comings, he’s a devoted dad.

The film treats Scott’s emotional story as the main one and Austin’s story as the subplot, with the upbeat Austin as the the grating cutesy narrator.

The result is a contrived, unfocused and preachy film. Its message of healing from our mistakes and birth defects might be on message, but is delivered in such a sappy way that it deflates the authenticity of the true inspirational story.

REVIEWED ON 3/10/2025  GRADE: C
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