The Unbreakable Boy (2025) | Film Review

In a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”) is under heightened scrutiny, The Unbreakable Boy gives audiences a look into the experience of having an autistic condition and being the parent of a child with one.

Unlike Shazam, Scott, Zachary Levi’s character in The Unbreakable Boy, is anything but a superhero. Scott is very human, as he struggles with his alcohol addiction and can’t seem to figure out his son, Austin (Jacob Laval). Austin is on the spectrum and sees the world with such vivid imagination – visualizing dragons flying in the sky when kites soar in the wind, for example – and hasn’t a care in the world what others might think of him. Austin also has a genetic condition, osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as brittle bone syndrome), which causes bones to become so fragile they easily break. Scott cannot relate to anything with his son’s conditions, and this begins to deeply affect his relationship with his wife, Teresa (Meghann Fahy).

The most impactful aspect of The Unbreakable Boy is the parallel of witnessing autism through the lens of a child while also seeing the perspective of their parents. Having a child that needs more attention and support than the average child, not always being able to relate to how they view things and balancing the societal judgements all add to additional stress as parents. No less, a child who has broken over a dozen bones before middle school. The overall film is narrated through the viewpoint of Austin and gives so much understanding into the carefree and spirited personalities of children living with autism.

Levi sways from his usual guy-next-door routine, flexing his dramatic skills as a father who just can’t seem to get anything right. Meanwhile, Meghann Fahy does a phenomenal job showing us how protective and mindful a mother always has to be. Every decision Teresa makes is in the best interest of her two boys and Fahy gives us pure vulnerable emotion within the heartbreaking decisions.

Impressively enough, Jacob Laval pulls off being a child at the age of 17 years-old, which alone should get him an award simply for good genetics. Having only seen Laval in one other film, 8-bit Christmas, he shows up with the same energy and enthusiasm to his character as ever, brightening up every room he enters.

While The Unbreakable Boy certainly delivers a heartwarming iteration of the classic “parenting is tough”, it is unbeknownst to me why this particular family was highlighted. Beyond the medical condition Austin has in addition to his autism, there is nothing remarkably notable to center a film around. It is almost as though all the pieces are here for a heartwarming classic of a film, yet the script could not quite flesh out a story impactful nor focused enough to justify our journey with these characters.

Nevertheless, The Unbreakable Boy ultimately illuminates the beauty in differences and, instead of the cliché “neurodivergency is bad”, Jon Gunn delivers by showcasing the happiness, joy, and intelligence that comes with neurodivergent kiddos.

Listen to our full podcast review of The Unbreakable Boy on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: