This movie is getting a lot of buzz as “the movie where Tom Hanks plays Mr. Rogers”. But that’s not what it’s really about. Lloyd is assigned to write a profile piece on Mr. Rogers for Esquire. Lloyd is an angry person who’s struggling as a husband and as a new father. He’s never forgiven his father, Jerry, for walking out on him and his sister when their mother was sick.
At first, Lloyd wants to do a real investigative piece on Mr. Rogers, but as Rogers responds to everything with kindness it starts to change Lloyd. Lloyd starts to admire Mr. Rogers and let go of his anger.
Tom Hanks will almost definitely get an Oscar nomination for his great embodiment of Fred Rogers. But ultimately the movie is about how kindness, forgiveness, and letting go of our anger can make us and those around us happier. And it really gets that message across.