Director Tony Goldwyn thoughtfully weaves together a touching story of love and acceptance in “Ezra”, an earnest and personal dramedy written by Tony Spiridakis who was inspired by his own experience raising an autistic son. After years of pouring his heart into his script, Spiridakis shared a final draft with Goldwyn who asked to direct. Soon after, the two close friends were premiering “Ezra” at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival. And now it’s getting a full theater release.

Anchored by a superb cast, “Ezra” sees Bobby Cannavale playing Max Brandel, an impulsive stand-up comic struggling to raise his autistic son, Ezra (newcomer William A. Fitzgerald) with his overprotective ex-wife, Jenna (Rose Byrne). Both love their son dearly, but each have different ideas about what’s best for him. Making matters worse, Ezra has been kicked out of three different public schools, and his current school is threatening to expel him following another outburst.

The tensions between Max and Jenna intensify after it’s recommended that Ezra be sent to a special needs school and put on the antipsychotic drug Risperdal. The loving yet exasperated Jenna is open to the idea while Max wants no part of it. Following some unfortunate circumstances, Ezra is sent to the school leading Max to make a rash decision that he believes is in the best interest of his son. He loads up Ezra and heads across country without telling Jenna.

As you can probably tell from that brief synopsis, the story is as much (if not more) about the people around Ezra than it is Ezra himself. That may frustrate some viewers, but Goldwyn maintains a good balance and is careful that Ezra never becomes just another plot device. The casting of 15-year-old Fitzgerald was a key move. On the Autism Spectrum himself, Fitzgerald adds an authenticity and a vibrancy that the film desperately needs.

The performances are top-to-bottom terrific especially from Cannavale and Byrne. Both play very different roles, but complement each other nicely. Then you have the supporting cast starting with Robert De Niro as Max’s critical and unsupportive father. Whoopi Goldberg plays Max’s manager who’s always looking out for him. Goldwyn himself is really good playing Jenna’s new husband Bruce who tries to stay neutral in a difficult situation. Rainn Wilson pops up as a fellow comedian while the always great Vera Farmiga plays Max’s old friend Grace.

“Ezra” strays a little too far in the final act, losing a bit of the above-mentioned authenticity through a handful of plot contrivances and some swings at levity that don’t quite connect. But Spiridakis’ personal experiences can be felt through his movie’s sincerity. And I appreciate his willingness to buck what many would say a movie about the neurodiversity “should be”. Those on the Spectrum, as well as the people around them, have a broad array of experiences that help define who they are. Neither Spiridakis or Goldwyn handcuff their characters to expectations or formulas. They respect them and their experiences, treating them with an emotional openness and honesty that makes it easy to look past the film’s shortcomings. “Ezra” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 3 STARS