Joe Bell (2020)

Joe Bell has the rare, disarming power of a story that feels simple on the surface and then quietly floors you with its humanity: an ordinary father, not naturally eloquent or heroic, trying to do one brave thing in a world that didn’t protect his kid. Mark Wahlberg gives one of his most sincere performances, grounding the film’s big emotions in a working-class authenticity that makes the grief, love, and stubborn determination land with real weight. The tone is earnest and intimate rather than flashy, the kind of drama that invites you to sit with uncomfortable truths about cruelty and compassion—and to consider what allyship looks like when it’s messy, late, and deeply personal. It can feel familiar in its storytelling beats, but if you’re open to a straightforward, heartfelt tearjerker with a strong emotional core, it’s hard to walk away untouched.

Joe Bell is clearly aiming for an earnest, boots-on-the-ground plea for kindness, using a father’s cross-country walk as a simple, emotional vehicle to confront bullying and homophobia. The problem is it often settles for familiar inspirational beats and blunt messaging, so the story can feel unfocused and more like a lesson plan than a lived-in drama, with Mark Wahlberg’s restrained performance reading as monotonous rather than quietly powerful. If you’re looking for a nuanced, LGBTQ+ centered film with sharp character work and fresh insight, this may feel like a well-intentioned step backward. Still, if you respond to straightforward, heart-on-sleeve dramas and don’t mind a heavy hand, the sincerity and real-world subject matter might land for you.