The film isn’t perfect, but it gets the most crucial elements right. It doesn’t present us with another cliched portrayal of an individual with Downs Syndrome, and it treats its subjects with the humanity they deserve instead of reducing or looking down on them. Zak isn’t just someone with a disability; he’s strong, outspoken, and treated no differently than any “normal” character. The film also does a nice job of presenting us with tangible characters that we can all relate to, which further binds is to their journey.

The characters are exactly what drive the story, and it’s through them that the film’s dual narratives of redemption and following your dreams intersect. Zak has a dream of being a professional wrestler and being trained by his idol, Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church). He religiously watches the same VHS tape to prepare and is dead set on achieving his goals.

Zak’s story is contrasted heavily with Tyler, a down on his luck fisherman who’s being justifiably pursued by rival competition for torching their gear. The two meet when Zak stows away on Tyler’s boat, and though it doesn’t happen immediately, Zak inevitably charms Tyler, and the pair become inseparable friends. Tyler sees a lot of he and his brother’s relationship in he and Zak, and both have long been searching for something close to family, something neither have any longer.

Eleanor, Zak’s caretaker at his nursing home, is the closest thing to family he has, and she spends a majority of her time trying to track Zak down — and she’s incredibly talented at locating a missing person without a tracker and always seems to find herself at the right place at the right time. Eventually, she catches up to the duo and after some convincing, she comes along for the adventure, as the trio float down the aimless river Huckleberry Finn style in pursuit of Zak’s wrestling dream.