Today’s quick review: Zig Zag. Louis “Zig Zag” Fletcher (Sam Jones III), a teenager with a learning disability, spends time with his mentor Singer (John Leguizamo) to get away from his abusive father David (Wesley Snipes). But when Louis steals $9000 from his boss Mr. Walters (Oliver Platt) and loses the money to his father, Singer has to help Louis come up with a plan to pay it back.
Zig Zag is a drama about the life of a special teenage boy. Battered by his father and disenchanted with school, Louis gets by with the help of Singer, a warehouse worker suffering from cancer, and the handful of other people who treat him with respect. The movie does a good job of showing the world from Louis’s perspective and exposing him to new ideas. However, its meandering plot will not be for everyone.
Zig Zag’s strength lies in its characters. Louis may take a while for the audience to get used to, but he ultimately makes for a likable character. His unique perspective on the world puts an innocent spin on what would otherwise be a depressing story. For his part, Singer is a loyal friend. He has his flaws, but he always puts Louis’s needs above his own and does his best to prepare Louis for an uncaring world.
Still, Zig Zag can be a little too realistic for its own good. The plot follows the chaotic rhythm of Louis’s life, lurching from work to home to Singer and back. To the extent that there is a main plot thread, it involves the lump of cash that Louis stole from his boss. But between a passive main character and the many distractions along the way, the movie has a hard time building up momentum or reaching an effective climax.
Zig Zag holds niche appeal. If you are interested in a character-driven drama that involves hardship, Zig Zag may be an interesting pick. Although it lacks the emotional richness that it could have had, its characters are pleasant to spend time with and its story has a quirky appeal to it. But the same aspects that make Zig Zag unique make it a less-than-appealing watch for those just looking for something easy. Approach with caution.
For a drama about a man with a similar disability, try Rain Man. For a surreal crime thriller about a boy on his own in a dangerous city, try Running Scared. For a sports drama about a man mentoring inner city children, try Hardball. For a tonally similar drama, try Hard Surfaces, The High Cost of Living, or Powder Blue.
[5.9 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271885/). I give it a 6.5 for good character work and a hit-or-miss story.