ComedyDrama

Ezra

- To do right by his son, one dad will go the distance.

Stand-up comedian Max Bernal lives with his father Stan while struggling to co-parent his autistic son Ezra with his ex-wife. When forced to confront difficult decisions about their son's future, Max and Ezra embark on a cross-country road trip that has a transcendent impact on both their lives.

Release Date : 2024-05-30

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Closer MediaWayfarer Studios

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Inappropriate Behavior

Cast

Character Name : Max Bernal

Original Name : Bobby Cannavale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ezra Bernal

Original Name : William A. Fitzgerald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stan Bernal

Original Name : Robert De Niro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jenna

Original Name : Rose Byrne

Gender : Female

Character Name : Grace

Original Name : Vera Farmiga

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jayne

Original Name : Whoopi Goldberg

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nick

Original Name : Rainn Wilson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bruce

Original Name : Tony Goldwyn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ridgeway

Original Name : Jackson Frazer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Greer

Original Name : Greer Barnes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ms. Cathro

Original Name : Tess Goldwyn

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Irina Tamarova

Original Name : Ella Ayberk

Gender : Female

Character Name : Susan

Original Name : Lois Robbins

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dr. Kaplan

Original Name : Alex Plank

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agent Margo Jenkins

Original Name : Daphne Rubin-Vega

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ruby

Original Name : Matilda Lawler

Gender : Female

Character Name : Special Agent Costa

Original Name : Joe Pacheco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. C.

Original Name : Amy Sheehan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Robert Segal

Original Name : Geoffrey Owens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Jeffrey Wells

Original Name : Barzin Akhavan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Noreen, Woman in Bar

Original Name : Donna Vivino

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sister Margaret

Original Name : Jacqueline Nwabueze

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sheriff Tom

Original Name : John Donovan Wilson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tim

Original Name : Joshua Hinck

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detective Harrelson

Original Name : David Marciano

Gender : Male

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Dov Davidoff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ariana

Original Name : Sophie Mulligan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lance

Original Name : Thomas Duverné

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bouncer

Original Name : Brian Donahue

Gender : Male

Character Name : Margo

Original Name : Myra Lucretia Taylor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Security Guard

Original Name : Jennifer Plotzke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Classmate

Original Name : Jack Parrish

Gender : Male

Character Name : Diner

Original Name : Josh Pesin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Drummer

Original Name : Louie Aronowitz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender

Original Name : Eddie A. Bryant

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ezra's Classmate

Original Name : Alex Barber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ezra's Classmate

Original Name : Oliver Morales

Gender : Male

Character Name : Waitress

Original Name : Julia Linger

Gender : Female

Character Name : Classroom Kid

Original Name : Skyler Wenger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jimmy Kimmel

Original Name : Jimmy Kimmel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guillermo Rodriguez

Original Name : Guillermo Rodriguez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cally

Original Name : Zoe Cali

Gender : Female

Character Name : Self

Original Name : Emma Willmann

Gender : Female

Character Name : Agent Pena

Original Name : Mia Caro

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waitress at Diner

Original Name : Bev Sheehan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jackie

Original Name : Megan Hennessy

Gender : Female

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

@screenzealots

2025-04-04

Director Tony Goldwyn‘s “Ezra” is a surprisingly heartfelt family drama that manages to be both funny and emotional in all the right ways. While it can sometimes feel too pedestrian, the story blends a road trip narrative with themes of family dynamics, personal trauma, and the unconditional love between a father and son. Max (Bobby Cannavale) is a stand-up comedian and a father to Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald), a young boy on the autism spectrum. Devoted to his son, Max is fiercely protective of his unique qualities while remaining adamant about not “fixing” him because he believes Ezra is perfect as he is. But when forced to make a tough choice about the boy ‘s future, Max acts rashly, taking Ezra on a cross-country journey without his ex-wife Jenna’s (Rose Byrne) permission. This impulsive move creates both tension and heartfelt moments, as it forces Max to confront the consequences of his actions and the depths of his love for his son. What sets the film apart is its authentic, raw portrayal of autism (the script is written by Tony Spiridakis, whose own experiences with an autistic son give the story an undeniable sense of realism). Fitzgerald (who is also on the spectrum) interacts with a world in a way that feels incredibly true to life because it is. The film captures the little things, like Ezra’s struggles with physical touch and his love for puzzles and memorization, without ever feeling exploitative. This is a film that doesn’t just shine a light on the challenges of autism, but exposes a world of nuance and individuality. You could say it’s educational in that way. Cannavale’s performance as a deeply flawed father who’s totally devoted to his son is impressive. I didn’t know the actor had this much range, and he’s quite good. His character’s anger-management issues and rash decisions add a layer of complexity but it’s clear that every wrong step he takes is driven by love that isn’t always expressed in the healthiest way. Byrne provides a grounding balance to the chaos, portraying a character who is the voice of reason, and Robert De Niro’s role as Max’s father, Stan, is written in a way that’s more meaningful than a series of platitudes that often surround a dad trying to make amends for his past failures. Stan’s attempts to connect with Ezra and support his son are touching, and De Niro’s performance adds a depth to the family dynamics that feels earned and real. The film strikes a perfect balance between drama and humor. There are moments of missteps where you’ll cringe at Max’s choices, but there’s never any doubt about his fierce, unwavering love for his son. This father-son relationship is at the emotional center of the film and serves as a reminder of how love can be messy, complicated, but also transformative. “Ezra” is a story about family and how love isn’t always perfect. It blends humor and heart so well, providing a funny and moving look at fatherhood, redemption, and the bond between generations. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS