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For some children, day-to-day life can be pretty scary—whether they face challenges at home or at school. And in The Parts You Lose, a troubled young boy comes to the conclusion that an armed fugitive is less scary than the trials he faces every day.
The Parts You Lose stars Danny Murphy as Wesley, a deaf 10-year-old boy from a small North Dakota town. Bullied at school and misunderstood by his father (Scoot McNairy), Wesley has no one but his mother (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to talk to. But when he finds an injured man (Aaron Paul) lying in the snow on his way home from school, Wesley decides to hide him in the family’s barn. Though the man is armed and dangerous—wanted by police for his involvement in a robbery in South Dakota—Wesley cares for him, and the two build an unlikely bond.
Despite the crime thriller setup—and the presence of an armed criminal who secretly settles into the family’s barn to heal his wounds—The Parts You Lose is more about the state of this young character’s life than about the manhunt.
Wesley’s story is heartbreaking. Every day at school, he’s teased by the same bully, while the rest of his classmates laugh at him. When his father is around, he’s emotionally and sometimes physically abusive. He refuses to use sign language, and he doesn’t want his wife to use it, either, because he can’t accept that his son is different. Wesley’s mother, meanwhile, tries to compensate by lifting his spirits in any way she can (like always letting him win at checkers).
Wesley’s life is so difficult, in fact, that the dangerous fugitive in his barn seems to be a preferable alternative. He doesn’t coddle Wesley or feel sorry for him; he simply sees him as a kid who needs some toughening up. He teaches Wesley how to think through his moves in checkers—to win on his own merit—and he shows him how to stand up to bullies (and fight back if necessary).
Admittedly, the story here isn’t especially captivating, and few of the characters stand out. But Danny Murphy is truly lovable as Wesley. His story may not be strong or memorable, but his character keeps the film from falling apart.
The Parts You Lose isn’t a fast-paced film. So if you’re looking for an exciting action film, you’ll quickly lose interest. But the charming young star—and his character’s heartbreaking story—will touch viewers’ hearts.
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