Movie Review: 23 Blast
Movie Description:
When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe handicapped life or bravely return to the life he once knew and the sport he still loves.
I confess, when the movie started, my expectations were low. With the exception of Spy Kids actress Alexa Vega, none of the actors were names I knew. Sadly, most faith based films are known for having a cheesy element to them.
But like Travis Freeman and his true story about going blind and choosing not only to live in a sighted world, but play football again, as the movie progresses, it finds it footing.
Travis went from 20/20 vision one day to completely blind the next. He had to process through the anger and surrender his fears. His blindness affected a lot of people and I believe the movie did a good job showing that. His parents, especially his mother, really struggled with his loss of sight. He’s got one friend who sticks with him, to the point of being blunt about the girl that left as soon as things got tough. He has another friend with a lot of baggage that supplies a lot of humor but also struggles to find his place before and after Travis’ blindness.
By the last scene, I was crying. Like the other football movies with heart, I was sucked into the emotion and winning spirit the team carried regardless of the score. The last play is amazing.
The actor that played Travis reminds me of a young Matt Damon. I thought he did an admirable job in the challenging role.
At the end you learn the real Travis played a cameo part in a key scene, and that was emotional for me, too. I recommend watching the bonus footage as Travis not only shares his own story, the actors do as well. They also explain what happened to one of the players, and I think it’s important for teens especially to pay attention to that footage. The movie earned the PG-13 rating because of that player and his choices, and they are honest about showing those choices have consequences. Travis talks about his friend and the demons his friend never surrendered. It’s a real lesson to think about long after the movie is over.
As is 23 Blast itself. We may not face the same challenges as Travis, but we all have fears. I think the movie is an inspirational motivator for all of us to dig deep inside and surrender in faith.
For we walk by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7 was the core verse for 23 Blast.
May it be the same for us.
To purchase 23 Blast, click here.
I received a copy of 23 Blast in exchange for an honest review.
