Learning You Review: Autism Road Trip Drama Is Hard to Bear
This sentimental and poorly conceived tale about a father, his autistic son, and a life-sized toy bear suffers from sanctimonious religious messaging and dreadful dialogue. Anyone with autism or close to someone with the condition might feel inclined to be forbearing of this family drama, given its plea for acceptance and love. However, the film is so sappy, ill-conceived, and bloated with moralizing themes that it becomes a slog to endure.
Plot Overview and Character Dynamics
The main character is Elijah, played as a child by Reece Turley and as an adult by Caleb Milby. He is first introduced after a violent meltdown that has destroyed the family's Christmas decorations. Elijah's father Ty, portrayed by John Wells, attempts to comfort the distraught teen with help from Elijah's favorite stuffed toy, a polar bear named Nook. Flash forward seven years, and Elijah is now in a secure hospital facility that resembles a jail, partly because his mother Pam, played by Layla Cushman and divorced from Ty, wants to offload him on the state while Ty struggles to maintain his career as an architect.
Signifying his descent into despair, Ty contemplates suicide and begins to fantasize that he can see a life-sized version of Nook, essentially an actor named Al Snow in a plushie costume. This character is a 12A-rated version of Ted from the Seth MacFarlane franchise, devoid of swearing or crude humor. On Nook's advice, Ty takes Elijah for an unscheduled Christmas holiday to the South Carolina shore, much to the fury of Pam, although his actions are not strictly illegal.
Supporting Elements and Critical Flaws
Meanwhile, benevolent Christian plutocrat Reggie Sinclair, played by Daniel Roebuck, grows impatient about when Ty will finish the designs for the arena he has commissioned. However, when Reggie sees Instagram posts by Elijah showing the mostly jolly road trip, he softens, especially since he has an autistic son himself, portrayed by Seth Phrampus.
Director Tyler Sansom and his team of screenwriters flail around trying to pull the storylines together, often failing to create coherent reasons for characters to move from one situation to another. The dialogue is particularly dreadful, which only serves to highlight the weak acting performances. Despite these flaws, the film's heart is in the right place, aiming to depict more challenged autistic individuals who need support, a group sometimes referred to by the now-contested label of "low functioning."
Positive Aspects and Disclaimers
To its credit, the film opens with a disclaimer that acknowledges the autism spectrum is wide and varied, stating that this film reflects the individual experiences of two characters and is not intended to represent every autistic story. Additionally, some proceeds from the film will go toward supporting carers, which might encourage viewers to see it as an act of charity. Learning You is in UK and Irish cinemas from 13 March, offering a rare attempt to feature more challenged autistic people in mainstream cinema, even if the execution falls short.
