Anything’s Possible is a charming and sweet film that implores a more inclusive and accepting world. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
Amazon Prime Video’s Anything’s Possible drops on the streaming service this Friday, July 22nd. The film is Billy Porter’s directorial debut, and tells a story we don’t normally see, about a black transgender high school girl. While it may appear that the film is about what it is like to be a trans girl in high school today, it actually spreads a much deeper message about accepting and loving someone for who they are, not what they are. Check out the details in my parents guide movie review.
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Anything’s Possible Movie Quotes
Anything’s Possible Parents Guide
In Anything’s Possible: A high school student summons up the courage to ask a transsexual teen out on a date.
Anything’s Possible Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know before letting their kids watch Anything’s Possible.
Language: Anything’s Possible contains some strong language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include: b*tch, sh*t, a**, d*ck, d*mn, and phrases like “so gay.”
Mature Content: The film revolves around a transgender girl having a relationship with a straight male in high school, so there are tones of bullying and treating like an outcast, which may be triggering for some viewers. No nudity or sexually explicit content is shown. Characters are shown making out and there are discussions revolving around sex. There is one fight scene that involves two high school students.
Overall Thoughts
Anything’s Possible is a coming-of-age film that revolves around a transgender high school girl and a straight boy who has a crush on her. While on the surface, the film seems to tackle what it is like to be a transgender individual in high school, it tackles so much more, as it delves into the love interests and friendships of a teen girl who just so happens to be transgender. The story is no fairy tale by any means, but at times when the young romance begins to blossom, the circumstances they must face are soon forgotten and viewers are able to witness the budding love between two people who genuinely like each other for the person they are inside. As Kelsa states, “I don’t have to be strong around him, I don’t have to be brave. I can just be me.“ And that is all anyone can hope for: someone who will accept us for who we are rather than what we are.
The biggest flaw in Anything’s Possible is in the casting choices. Eva Reign plays lead Kelsa, and while the casting of a real-life transgender actress is appreciated, there was just something off about the entire film. Reign is beautiful, and it is often overlooked while watching the movie that she was indeed born a man, but when she starts to speak, it often feels like she is reciting her lines from a piece of paper, lacking all emotion. Her lack of acting gives the entire film an after-school special feel. On the other hand, Ahubakr Ali, who plays Khal and Kelsa’s love interest, is superb in the role and makes up for where Reign lacks. Ali is charming and relatable, giving a very genuine performance. Despite Reign’s acting ability, the two had great chemistry onscreen, which gave this romantic comedy feel good butterflies.
Anything’s Possible may not be a perfect film, but it tries to tackle the weighty issues while still attempting the light and breeziness of the rom-com genre. It is to be expected I suspect that these types of subjects will become more commonplace in not only the rom-com genre, but in many movies in the future. With the world becoming more and more open to LGBTQIA+ individuals, their stories will be more present on screen. Depending on the audience, this will likely do one of two things. Either it will drive people away, or it will evoke a commonality amongst outsiders/allies who will realize that, as humans, we all go through similar experiences. And while nuance dictates that no two lives are the same, we all share struggles and understand emotions. Hopefully, we will be able to normalize human differences and learn to respect others for more than what meets the eye.
