Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot is a 2018 American comedy-drama film based upon the memoir of the same name by John Callahan. Gus Van Sant wrote the screen adaptation and directed the film. The cast includes Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, and Jack Black, and follows a recently-paralyzed alcoholic who finds a passion for drawing off-color newspaper cartoons.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2018 and was released on July 13, 2018, by Amazon Studios.

Plot
After nearly dying in a car accident, the last thing Oregon slacker John Callahan intends to do is give up alcohol. Encouraged by his girlfriend and a charismatic sponsor, Callahan reluctantly enters a treatment program and discovers that he has a knack for drawing. The budding artist soon finds himself with a new lease on life when his edgy and irreverent newspaper cartoons gain a national and devoted following.

Cast

 * Joaquin Phoenix as John Callahan
 * Ethan Michael Moran as Young John Callahan
 * Jonah Hill as Donnie Green
 * Rooney Mara as Annu
 * Jack Black as Dexter
 * Mark Webber as Mike
 * Udo Kier as Hans
 * Angelique Rivera as Terry Alvarado
 * Olivia Hamilton as Nurse Lily
 * Carrie Brownstein as Suzanne
 * Heather Matarazzo as Shannon
 * Rebecca Rittenhouse as Bonnie
 * Ron Perkins as Morton Kimble
 * Rebecca Field as Margie Bighew
 * Kim Gordon as Corky
 * Emilio Rivera as Jesus Alvarado
 * Sunny Suljic as Skateboarder #2
 * Beth Ditto as Reba
 * Mireille Enos as John's Ghost Mother
 * Tony Greenhand as Tim
 * Helen Slayton-Hughes as Woman on Bus

Production
Originally, Robin Williams had optioned the book and invited Gus Van Sant to adapt it. On November 29, 2016, it was announced that actor Joaquin Phoenix was teaming with director Van Sant for the biographical film of cartoonist John Callahan, based on Callahan's autobiography Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot. Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad Belkeddar, and Nicolas Lhermitte would produce the film for Iconoclast, and Steve Golin for Anonymous Content. In December 2016, Rooney Mara and Jonah Hill joined the cast of the film. In February 2017, Jack Black joined the cast of the film. In March 2017, Mark Webber and Angelique Rivera joined the cast of the film.

Filming
Principal photography began on March 6, 2017 and concluded on April 6, 2017.

Release
In March 2017, it was confirmed Amazon Studios would distribute the film. It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2018 and also screened at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 20, 2018. It was scheduled to be released on May 11, 2018, then was pushed back to July 13, 2018.

Critical response
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 79% based on 61 reviews, with a weighted average of 6.4/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot avoids inspirational biopic clichés thanks to sensitive work from writer-director Gus Van Sant and the admirable efforts of a well-chosen cast." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter  gave the film a positive review, writing: "This unwieldy but consistently enjoyable portrait of paraplegic local hero John Callahan is notable for its generosity of spirit and gentleness". Peter Debruge of Variety also gave the film a positive review, writing: "A life-affirming sweet-and-sour concoction".