Anything's Possible (2022) Movie Review & Film Summary

Anything's Possible (2022) Movie Review & Film Summary

For an excessive college pupil surrounded via way of means of the chaos of the youngsterager world, Kelsa (a fascinating Eva Reign)—the important heroine of Billy Porter’s “Anything’s Possible”—appears to have the critical stuff figured out. She is aware that she loves animals, developing her kinship with their habitats and survival styles each day. She is aware that she desires to take a look at zoology and grow to be a nature cinematographer one day. And despite the fact that her call actually means “brave,” she is aware that she doesn’t adore it while humans name her that, best due to her gender identity: an assured trans woman positive of who she is.

But like several youngsterager, Kelsa nonetheless has plenty of factors to research and experience, errors that she desires to make on her very own and witness a few made through others at her expense. If this template jewelry is a bit too familiar, like a John Hughes day out tailored for this aspect of the twenty-first Century such as various experiences, that’s due to the fact it's miles designed to accomplish that thru a mild script insightfully written through Ximena García Lecuona. In fact, “Pose” star (and powerhouse entertainer one Oscar far from the coveted EGOT) Porter’s pleasant debut is possibly maximum groundbreaking precisely due to this familiarity, one which presents a Black, high-school-elderly trans girl—a person we do not often see withinside the cinema, if at all—a recognizable younger story now no longer described through bigoted adversity. At least now no longer solely. In different words, what “Anything’s Possible” says is, “Here is a combination of youngsterager romances and comedies you know, however presenting characters you may not have visible before.”

Still, now no longer the whole lot is commercial enterprise as common in “Anything’s Possible,” notwithstanding a healthful dose of normal teenage romantic issues and friendship drama. For starters, Kelsa isn’t absolutely certain what to make of the belief of romance simply yet. She is afraid, as she confesses on her fascinating and handiest modestly regarded vlog, that a person would possibly like her handiest to appear woke and supportive. And the other of that—which is, crushing prejudice and rejection—is likewise a daunting prospect. She frequently says she desires to be cherished and standard for being who she is. That’s partially why she resists even citing her gender identification in her university software essay (“I don’t need to make the most it,” she explains), notwithstanding her perennially supportive unmarried mom (Renée Elise Goldsberry) insistence. And her useful determination has a respectable point: isn’t being trans, isn’t the confident manner wherein she advised her transition, part of who Kelsa is?

Luckily, she seems to be surrounded by some best friends who have no trouble accepting all of Kelsa, a gifted student and a giving friend. There is Chris (Kelly Lamor Wilson), sporting a blindingly fabulous purple hair color and creative make-up; as well as Em (Courtnee Carter), whose hair accessories and eclectic, eye-popping wardrobe make Dionne of “Clueless” seem like someone with a safe fashion sense. (The stunning costumes are by Analucia McGorty, also of “Pose.”) If only Em and Kelsa didn’t have a crush on the same guy, the talented artist/Muslim student Khal (Abubakr Ali), who reciprocates Kelsa’s feelings. If their long conversations, playfulness with one another, and palpable chemistry are any indication, there could truly be a fruitful relationship on the horizon for these two. But what would Khal’s supportive yet traditional family think? What would their school friends say?

In due course, the duo gets together as a romantic couple and all hell breaks loose. Well, not exactly, but Em does react to the news poorly, worse than Kelsa might have predicted. As far as the school crowd goes? They respond with the kind of performative support Kelsa detests. Perhaps worse than that is a group of narrow-minded (or flat-out homophobic) friends of Khal, who cluelessly wonder whether he is gay. Still, the couple navigates the dilemmas with grace, even when certain boundaries get crossed between friends, lovers, and even family members.

Sometimes, there is certain safeness to the tone of “Anything’s Possible,” a demeanor that’s too eager to please, too game to deliver all the correct messages to the widest group possible; one that put a dent in various teenage-centric movies of late like “Crush,” “Moxie,” and even “Booksmart.” But you can hardly blame Lecuona or Porter for that seeming lack of risk or edge—it’s not like high-school movies about trans youth have become so mainstream that storytellers feel safe to gamble outside of tried-and-true zones. (One should note that with the likes of “Pose” and “Euphoria,” TV is well ahead here.) Perhaps one day, we’ll get there in the American cinema. Until then, “Anything’s Possible” is quite possibly the best thing we have to celebrate.