The Unbreakable Boy (2025)– Tears, Triumphs, and a Dad Who’s in Way Over His Head
- Dan Brooks
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
A young boy with both a rare brittle-bone disease and autism transforms everyone around him with his joyous, funny, and life-affirming world view.
Alright, folks, grab your tissues and brace yourself for an emotional roller-coaster because The Unbreakable Boy is here to squeeze your tear ducts like a vice. Now, before you start picturing some Marvel spin-off where a superhero child fends off bad guys with his impenetrable bones—calm down, this isn’t that kind of unbreakable. This is the true story of a boy, played by Jacob Laval, who has both a rare brittle-bone disease and autism. Yeah, it’s the kind of double whammy that would make most people throw in the towel before halftime, but not this kid. Nope, he’s out here living his best life, spreading joy like a TikTok influencer with a million-dollar smile.
First up, we’ve got Zachary Levi playing the dad, and let’s be honest, if you only know him as Shazam! then you might be in for a shock—because instead of spouting quippy superhero one-liners, he’s wrestling with the realities of fatherhood, trying to hold it all together while life keeps throwing bricks at him. Meghann Fahy, fresh off her White Lotus stint, plays the mom who’s probably powered by sheer will and caffeine, because let’s face it, raising any child is hard enough, but raising a kid like Austin? That’s next-level superhero stuff. And then there’s Jacob Laval, who somehow manages to make you feel like a jaded cynic who’s forgotten how to smile. Kid’s got charisma in spades.
What I Liked – Otherwise Known as the “Emotional Body Slams”
It’s a tear-jerker if you have a heart. If you don’t get at least a little misty-eyed watching this, I have to assume you were raised by wolves. And not the nice kind, either—the emotionally unavailable kind.
You get a front-row seat to how tough it is to raise an autistic child. Hollywood tends to either sugarcoat these things or turn them into some kind of Rain Man-esque genius fantasy, but this movie keeps it real. There are triumphs, sure, but also the kinds of struggles that would make most parents consider running off to live in the woods.
It has a good message about fatherhood. Not just the Hallmark-y “Dads are heroes” stuff, but the honest, “this is really freaking hard and I might not be doing it right” kind of story that a lot of guys need to hear.
The casting was spot-on. When you’re dealing with a true story, bad casting can take you right out of the experience. Thankfully, this crew nails it.
True stories always hit harder. Because knowing this actually happened to real people makes it a little more impactful than, say, the 19th reboot of some superhero franchise no one asked for.
What I Didn’t Like – Because No Movie is Perfect
If you’ve got emotional baggage, this might be tough to sit through. Some scenes hit so close to home that you might find yourself needing a break.
The pacing drags at times. Look, I get it—this isn’t a car-chase, explosion-every-five-minutes type of movie, but there were moments where I found myself checking the runtime.
Competing storylines can get a little messy. Between the dad’s struggles, the mom’s struggles, and the kid’s struggles, sometimes it feels like a lot is going on at once.
The Verdict – Is It Worth Watching?
Absolutely. Just be ready for some emotional bruising. It’s the kind of movie that makes you reflect on your own life, maybe call your parents and tell them you appreciate them (or at least text them a thumbs-up emoji). If you’re into heartfelt true stories with some stellar performances, The Unbreakable Boy is a solid pick.
Final Rating: 7.0/10
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