Anything's Possible
- Director: Billy Porter
- Writer: Ximena García Lecuona
- Producer: Allison Rose Carter, Nic Cory, D.J. Gugenheim, David Hinojosa, Andrew Lauren, Christine Vachon
CGiii Comment
Sex Education...it most definitely is not.
Euphoria...nowhere near!
This is Billy Porter's directorial debut...he can command a stage, a scene, a screen, any red carpet...the fantastic Diva that he is...has found his Achilles Heel. Bland teen romance is not one of his many strong points.
He didn't write it...so, he can't take all of the blame. But...he should have demanded a major re-write as soon as he finished reading the script. Part YouTube self-help tutorial, part sermon...with some teen philosophy thrown in for whatever teen philosophy is worth. Zilch...unless you are a YouTubing teen wannabe philosopher! Character development...zilch. Story...nothing you haven't seen before...with a bizarre trans heteronormativity vibe!
As for the casting...there are some highs...but, too many lows. Eva Reign - who suffers from a wardrobe malfunction throughout - delivers lines as if reading straight from the page...for the very first time. Lacklustre to say the least...but, when the wardrobe upstages the acting...there's a great big problem!
Credit where credit is due...Abubakr Ali does a fantastic job with the given material. He has the screen presence of a young Brad Pitt...seriously, he does. The camera absolutely loves him. And...he does have the two best [short] scenes in the entire film...one that will make you laugh and the other will bring a tear to your eye. Alas...too short and too rare.
Anything's Possible fails to deliver anything remarkable or even memorable. The biggest surprise is the lack of surprises...sadly, that's what happens when expectations run too high.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Anything's Possible is a delightfully modern Gen Z coming-of-age story that follows Kelsa, a confident high school girl who is trans, as she navigates through senior year. When her classmate Khal gets a crush on her, he musters up the courage to ask her out, despite the drama he knows it could cause. What transpires is a romance that showcases the joy, tenderness, and pain of young love.
Cast & Characters
Renée Elise Goldsberry
Simone Joy Jones (as Megan)
Kelly Lamor Wilson
Abubakr Ali
Manu Narayan
Daisy Jade (as Phipps Conservatory Patron)
Grant Reynolds
Mark D Valenti (as Parent)
Roger Petan (as Bus passenger)
Phil Nardozzi (as Aviary Patron)
Michelle Do (as Elf Girlfriend)
Eva Reign (as Kelsa)
Courtnee Carter
Lav Raman (as Shivani)
Frankie Palombi (as Conservatory Patron)
Naveen Paddock (as Arwin)
Alec Ludacka
Shawn McClurg (as Chad Chaddington)
Ken Lutz (as Librarian)
Annelies Palombi (as Middle Schooler)
Caroline Travers (as Molly)
John W. Iwanonkiw (as Bus driver / Teacher (uncredited))
Cary Knight (as Academic Member (uncredited))
Scott Lockhart (as School Bus Driver (uncredited))
Valena Zitello (as Cheerleader (uncredited))