Big Ears (2021): Cast & Plot

Wheezer’s home life is defined by a continuous run of fights between his mother and father, played out in a way that feels exaggerated and a touch contrived over a string of small annoyances—things like coffee that cools down too quickly or toast that doesn’t come out right. The constant arguing creates an atmosphere of instability that Wheezer cannot easily read or interpret, and on one overheard moment he learns that his father is talking about a divorce. Confused and scared by the word itself, Wheezer turns to his friends—Stymie, Dorothy, and Sherwood—to make sense of what a divorce might mean. Their guesses volley between mischievous curiosity and genuine concern, with some ideas bordering on the idea that a divorce could even be a kind of relief.