Movie Review 'Ezra'

He used to be a lot of things and succeeded at most of them – comedy writer, husband and father to name a few. At present, Max Brandel (Bobby Cannavale), is not successful at much. Now, instead of writing comedy he is a struggling stand-up comedian appearing occasionally at local New Jersey comedy clubs.

His wife is divorcing him so he moved out and is living with his father, Stan (Robert De Niro). His wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne), was also granted custody of their son Ezra (Willian Fitzgerald), who happens to be autistic. Much to Jenna’s annoyance, Max often takes Ezra with him to the clubs and includes him in his monologues. Both “boys” are having a good time. Jenna hates the idea, but is helpless to stop it.

Ezra overhears Jenna’s boyfriend make a joke about beating up Max. He rushes out of the house to warn his father. Frightened by an approaching dog, only out for an evening walk, he dashes into the street in the path of an oncoming taxi.

Max, Jenna and her boyfriend appear at Ezra’s hospital bedside. The doctor is unable to get a description of the incident from Ezra, so assumes he was trying to harm himself. He orders Ezra to be transferred to a special-needs school and prescribes medications. Max doesn’t approve of the doctors diagnosis nor his suggested treatment. Their heated argument only ends up netting Max a three-month restraining order from seeing his son – that is, after he punched the doctor.

Max feels no other choice but to “kidnap” Ezra from his toxic environment. He steals into the house one night, slips into Ezra’s bedroom and tells his son to pack some things, they’re going on an adventure. The adventure is to a friend’s remote cabin in Michigan.

Dining out is challenging for Ezra and his dad. The boy can’t use metal utensils, be touched by anyone nor eat certain foods. His sudden confrontations and speaking in loud outbursts are disruptive to other diners as is his jumping around the room. They finally reach the cabin. The friend has a live-in house keeper who instantly bonds with Ezra. He becomes calmer in her presence.

Max receives a phone call from his manager proposing a gig in Los Angeles. She secretly recorded his most recent comedy appearance on her iPhone and forwarded it to Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy liked the brief clip and offered Max a possible spot on his TV show. The only caveat is he needs to be on the West coast by Friday.

Back in New Jersey both Jemma and Stan are frantic for information about the two runaways. Contact is finally made. Max struggles to explain his bizarre behavior and the reason for abducting his son. Jemma doesn’t approve of Max’s plan for Ezra and demands their return or she’ll be forced to take action.

The action she finally and hesitantly takes, to is to initiate an Amber Alert across the US – she only wants to protect her son. After seeing the Amber Alert of himself and Ezra on TV, Max moves faster to reach LA. They finally arrive at the Jimmy Kimmel studio and, as Max hops onto the stage with microphone in hand, so do two FBI agents with cuffs in their hands.

Directed by Tony Goldwyn (Credits: The Divide, A Walk on the Moon), Ezra runs 101 minutes and is a “should see” for a happy/sad family story.