Characters
This stand-up comedian is Ezra’s father.
Max
Max takes Ezra on this kind of spontaneous trip.
Road trip
Ezra’s journey emphasizes that differences should be valued, not ____.
fixed
At the start of the movie, Max struggles with this, which causes tension in his parenting.
Impulsiveness/ Lack of patience
Ezra struggles in these types of environments because they are loud or chaotic.
Noisy/overwhelming environments
She is Ezra’s mother and wants stability and routine.
Jenna
This city is Max’s destination for a TV show appearance.
Los Angeles
This theme shows that people’s brains work differently, and that difference should be valued.
Neurodiversity
Ezra develops this skill during the road trip, showing growth in how he handles the world.
expressing his needs / confidence / self-advocacy
Ezra prefers routines and familiar settings because sudden changes cause this.
anxiety / stress / sensory overload
He is Max’s father and Ezra’s supportive grandfather.
Stan
This important event causes Jenna to call the police.
Kidnapping
The tension between Max and Jenna illustrates the challenge of combining love with this theme.
responsibility / co-parenting / independence
Max realizes that understanding Ezra requires changing his own behavior, demonstrating growth in this personal quality.
empathy / patience / self-awareness
When Ezra leaves the classroom or walks away, it shows this method of coping.
self-regulation / seeking space / emotional coping
This 10-year-old boy is autistic and the center of the story.
Ezra
Why does Ezra get in trouble at the beginning of the film? And why does he get hit by a car?
He leads his classmates out of the classroom. He wants to warn Max, his dad, his mother's boyfriends want to put a hit on him.
Max’s transformation demonstrates this theme, as he learns from mistakes and becomes a better parent.
Jenna’s shift from control to collaboration illustrates growth not just in parenting, but in this skill.
communication / trust / cooperation
The film emphasizes that children with autism need support rather than this common response.
punishment / control / trying to “fix” them?
This character learns to be more patient and responsible during the movie.
Max
Max decides to take Ezra on a road trip instead of following the judge's decision. What was the judge's decision?
The judge ordered Max to a special needs school and to take medication.
Ezra’s journey highlights that real love in a family involves balancing care with this.
Independence/freedom
The road trip serves as a narrative device forcing multiple characters to confront assumptions about Ezra, highlighting that true character development is intertwined with this societal theme.
acceptance / valuing neurodiversity / challenging biases
The movie’s main message about autism can be summarized in one word: _____.
acceptance