When a film stars Robert De Niro, you take notice. When a film stars Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson, and Whoopie Goldberg, you instantly know you’re in for something special. And Ezra is just that.
Stand-up comedian Max Brandel (Bobby Cannavale) leans on his life experiences for his comedy sets, and his son, Ezra, certainly provides plenty of inspiration. Eleven years old, brilliant, and on the autism spectrum, Ezra is funny, spirited, and, yes… sometimes a little chaotic. When Max and his ex-wife Jenna (Rose Byrne) are advised to enroll Ezra in a specialized school and start him on medication, the two parents disagree about the proper course of action. This leads Max to run off with Ezra without Jenna’s permission, taking him on a cross-country trip that the father-son duo won’t soon forget.
Best known as a celebrated actor for his roles in films such as Ghost and Shonda Rhimes’ hit show Scandal, Tony Goldwyn puts on his directing hat in this endlessly lovable tale of good intentions and misguided actions. With a supremely delicate touch, he’s crafted a film that’s funny, heartwarming, and achingly sensitive.
It’s a star-studded work that, despite the chaos at the forefront, never forgets about the most important thing: the deeply rooted love of family.