The scourge of anti-professionalism has now hit a new low. I thought we had already gotten to the nadir when self-diagnosed morons died from COVID, but at least they could claim: “I did my own research.” (however feeble and ill-informed) Today’s hero can claim nothing but fatherhood. And, apparently, in the America we live in today, that’s enough to trump any pesky nay-sayers with their “degrees” or “education” or “badges.” Screw you and your stupid “knowledge,” I’m his father!
Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a stand-up “comedian,” divorcee, and father to an autistic child. I’m taking it on faith that Max is a capable comedian; I saw his act thrice in the film and have yet to hear him say anything funny. Typical of white men in America these days, Max is angry … a lot. And self-righteous … a lot. He and his ex-, Jenna (Rose Byrne), share custody of their pre-teen, Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), and, yet, she seems to have a much better touch (both literally and figuratively) with the kid than he does. Despite this, Max is the hero in the film; all else is window dressing. Like so many white men in America, Max matters, you don’t.
The important thing to note here is that Max knows best. Oh, his career sucks and he doesn’t seem to do anything right and in a film entitled “Ezra,” Max has stolen all focus. But, you know, he’s right. Because he’s just like you and me. And we’re right, right?
Ezra has several demons. Ezra doesn’t like to be touched and will scream if even a parent tries. Ezra has emotional difficulties; he belongs in a special school. Max disagrees, especially when the film opens with school personnel telling Max and Jenna that Ezra can’t be in public school any longer; Ezra is a danger to himself and others. As if to accentuate this assessment, Ezra overhears a sarcastic conversation between Jenna and her boyfriend, Bruce (Tony Goldwyn). Taking the comments as real, Ezra runs outside, dodges a dog, runs into the street, and gets hit by a car.
Here now the film focus should be entirely on Ezra, and instead, we are treated to the Max show: Max blowing up at the doctor, his lawyer, law enforcement, etc. Max has been wronged, you see? Moreover, Max “hasn’t been doing his job.” He needs to fight for Ezra. What does that mean? Who knows? But if Ezra had been with him instead of Jenna, Ezra wouldn’t be in the hospital. So, despite 
having little insight into Ezra’s needs or desires, Max kidnaps his child, strongarms his father, Stan (Robert DeNiro), into “lending” his car, and takes off westwardly.
I need to reiterate here that Max is the hero of this film. This has suddenly become a film for people who sympathize with the person who triggers the Amber Alert. Well, gosh, nice POV; I’ve never really taken the kidnappers feelings into account. Mainly, because, you know, the whole kidnapping thing. Reasonable people plead with Max to return. He is, after all, breaking the law. And not just “jaywalking” or “tax evasion,” kidnapping is a little worse than that, no?
And still Max is the hero of this film.
I couldn’t be more disgusted here. The Trump era has ushered in a slew of ugly, but among the ugliest is this sick and depraved notion that we are all now experts — experts in whatever we choose to believe we are experts in. The access to infinite knowledge has made us all doctors, lawyers, teachers, social workers, professionals. And this misplaced egotism of our national psyche is wielded with ungodly and unsupervised power. Now any jackass who shows up at a library suddenly knows what books a child ought to be reading and what influences ought to be banned. I’m surprised to find DeNiro in this film; he’s spoken out against Trump. Bobby, don’t you see? This film is MAGA with a capital moron. This is the viewpoint of a person who should be ignored, who would be ignored, and instead wrecks several lives including his own. This whole “father knows best” credo comes straight from a place of disingenuous arguments and entitled douchery. Max never once demonstrates that he truly knows what is best for his autistic child, and yet somehow we are led to believe Max’s vision that Ezra will be better off with the neglectful uniformity of public school shown to all children. I felt nauseous after viewing this film and wondered anew if we are ever going to get to a point in society where white male know-nothing ignorant bullies are treated exactly as white male know-nothing ignorant bullies. I doubt it.
There was once a father named Max
So sick of societal attacks
He kidnapped his son
And went on the run
But he’s a white male father, so relax
Rated R, 101 Minutes
Director: Tony Goldwyn
Writer: Tony Spiridakis
Genre: Gaslighting
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: The kind of person who considers Tom Petty’s ”Won’t Back Down” as their theme song
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Professionals of any kind
