Pursuing dreams: Tyler Nilson/Mike Schwartz's sweet adventure, THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON

Yes, it's determinedly feel-good. Yes, it's not entirely (or even mostly) believable. And, yes, it's sentimental as hell. Yet THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON -- as you've probably already heard via copious PR and maybe, by now, word-of-mouth, too -- is such a sweet movie, so well-acted and often just as well-written, and full of the kind of specificity regarding character and incident that will quickly turn you into a supporter, that the film passes the "worth-seeing" test and then some.

Best of all, it bestows on one of its leading characters, a Down Syndrome young man, more multi-faceted, full-bodied, positive/negative integrity than you usually find in narratives featuring this kind of special-needs character.

The movie's writers/directors -- Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz, pictured at left, with Mr. Schwartz on the right -- have done just about as good a job as you can imagine of creating a low-budget-but-thoroughly-mainstream film in which much that you expect indeed happens. But it happens with enough charm, sweetness and just enough of the sour to make it palatable for intelligent movie buffs.

Plus, it boasts a very good cast -- leads to small roles -- starting with Shia LaBeouf, who, with American Honey and now this film, seems to have gotten both his career and mental health back on track. The actor (below) has grown from a gorgeous if gangly, pretty-boy youth

into a real man. His performance here, as an angry, on-the-run fisherman who haltingly befriends our Down Syndrome hero (who's also on the run) is a very fine one indeed. In fact, it's LaBeouf's strength and complete credibility that most holds this movie together.

The actor is helped, of course, by the rest of the fine cast, starting with newcomer Zack Gottsagen, (above, left), an actor who has Down Syndrome and makes the very most of his role of Tyler, gaining our sympathy with absolutely no special pleading. Granted, today's audiences are likely to be on his side, just as soon as his condition is made clear. But this actor makes that condition at once both canny and complete. He's as likely to get you angry as he is to win you over. He's funny and moving and every-moment-real -- even when the movie-makers are asking him, as at the finale, to go full-out fantasy.

The leading lady (who is Tyler's care-giver and must track the kid down once he runs away from the facility where he lives) is played by Dakota Johnson (above, left), who is as good here as she's been elsewhere. The supporting roles are taken by actors as superb and in-demand as Jon Bernthal (below, right), Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church and John Hawkes, all of whom, considering their small roles, must have been most taken by the story, script and theme.

Comparisons have been made to the "rafting" tales of Mark Twain, and it's a good bet that Mr. Twain would have himself appreciated this smart little movie. Resist it as you might, get ready to be sweetly trounced.

From Roadside Attractions and running just 93 minutes, The Peanut Butter Falcon -- after making a splash at festivals and opening to excellent reviews on either coast -- hits South Florida and elsewhere this Friday, August 23. Click here to find the theater(s) nearest you.

Streaming fun -- an old-fashioned British boy's adventure and a starry cast highlight THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF THE MIDAS BOX

It's been awhile since TrustMovies had a dose of old-fashioned boy's adventure, British-style, featuring missing parents, kidnapped kids, secret passages, underground caverns, first love, and, of course, last-minute escapes. If this sort of thing appeals to you, or should you want to introduce same to your children or grandkids, then by all means, try the new-to-streaming THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF THE MIDAS BOX. This film was originally to be titled (as you can see from the poster image I've used, rather than the somewhat drab version that the marketing team finally chose), Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box. Maybe those marketers were frightened off by the moniker Mariah, which sounds feminine but is actually the given name of our hero, nicely played by the new British hottie, Aneurin Barnard (shown above and two photos below).

As directed efficiently (but no better than) by Jonathan Newman (shown at left), from a pretty good screenplay by Christian Taylor (of the unforgettable Showboy!) and Lindy Heymann, adapted from the novel by G.P. Taylor, the movie is a throwback in most ways. But it's one that I thoroughly enjoyed, mostly because -- in this age of nonstop special effects coupled to little content -- the experience proved rather like watching a old-fashioned classic come to surprising new life. Set in 1860s London, the tale is fun, silly, enjoyably predictable, and easy-as-pie to sit through.

Much of that ease and fun comes from a surprisingly starry British cast that, by virtue of its utter professionalism, gives an extra goose to everything from the dialog and banter to the pacing and plot. As the villain supreme we have a cold-blooded, highly intelligent performance by Sam Neill (below, left), and as his right-hand-dame (and maybe paramour, though this guy seems incapable of much amour), there's Lena Headey (below, right), at her bitchiest and coolest.

Mariah has a cute younger brother, Felix (Xavier Atkins, below), whom he must protect but is constantly fumbling that job -- never more so than when Felix gets up to his ears (eyes and nose) in a watery tomb.

Above everyone, however, stands the real star of the film, Michael Sheen, below, who plays a fellow named Charity -- who turns out to be the kids' real protector and a kind of jack-of-all-trades (and disguises). Sheen, as always, adds immeasurably to the fun here.

As Mariah and Felix's parents, we have two Brit stalwarts Ioan Gruffudd (below, left) and Keeley Hawes (below, right), who disappear toward the beginning and only appear again -- very oddly indeed -- at film's end (stay for the final credits, please) with a major surprise in store -- which simply demands a sequel.

I am not certain we'll ever see that sequel, though, as this first film, I believe, didn't do so well in recouping its cost. Still, we can hope -- for Mariah, his family, friends and foes make for charming viewing, at least for those of us still into the old-fashioned type of "boy's adventure" genre.

In addition to that good cast, the movie offers some delicious sets and a fine production design. There are times here when you just might imagine that you've stumbled into another, less bizarre and twee version of The Grand Budapest Hotel (a movie -- twee or not -- that I dearly loved, by the way).

You can stream The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box now via Netflix and probably elsewhere.