DVD Review: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

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Feb 26, 2023 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

When Scott Beck (David A.R. White, Beckman) was a teen, he was the star of his high school basketball team, had found the love of his life, and it looked like he was going to go Pro. However, his bright-looking future didn’t really end up the way he had planned. When he failed to be picked in the NBA draft, things fell apart with his relationship, and now, 20 years later, he’s a single 39-year-old janitor at his former high school, with truck that barely runs, an ailing father who’s constantly getting drunk, and living in a small rundown rental home with a stray dog that’s constantly hanging around. Scott’s best friend Nick (Robert Amaya) is the school’s basketball coach, and an aspiring pastor, though his anger management issues have caused him to flunk out of seminary school 4 times. Scott often offers advice to the basketball team as an unofficial assistant coach, and still throws the ball around himself once in a while. However, it seems like Scott’s life is stuck in a rut and going nowhere. That is, until a surprise second chance at a basketball career becomes available.

When the owner of the Knoxville Silver Knights passes away, he leaves the professional basketball team to his daughter, Ryan Aikens (Nadia Bjorlin). Just a month before the start of the season, she makes the tough decision to cut the team’s two star—but unruly—players. With no money in the budget for new players, she decides to hold open tryouts to rebuild the franchise. This doesn’t initially sit well with the team’s manager (Steven Bauer) or coach (Harry Lennix, The Blacklist). However, when one of the applicants turns out to be Ryan’s ex, Scott Beck, it could be the publicity they need to revitalize the team’s (and owner’s) image. Seeing each other again after 20 years reawakens some feelings between Ryan and Scott, but Scott’s going to need to work hard to prove that he still has what it takes to be a professional ballplayer if he’s going to earn a spot on the team. He’ll need to survive three rounds of tryouts to prove that nothing is impossible, and that he has the strength, speed, skills and faith to make it.

Nothing is Impossible is pretty much your typical, inspirational faith-based sports film, with someone trying to beat the odds and turning to their faith to help them do so. The film has a positive message of never giving up on your dreams, and never being scared to attempt the seemingly impossible. While I generally enjoyed the film, it feels like the writers have thrown in everything but the kitchen sink. There’s the drunken/ailing dad in need of redemption (and a heart transplant), the car that keeps breaking down at just the wrong (or is it right?) times, the rent being overdue, the lovable stray dog that won’t leave lonely Scott alone, the reuniting/rekindling with the ex-fiancée, the evil manager who’s plotting against the hero, the promising young athlete who looks to Scott as a role model, the best friend who wants to be a preacher but has anger issues—which are convenient for coaching so he can yell to motivate the team, and more. We see Scott initially struggle with the idea of trying out for the team and/or going after Ryan again. He’s lost these things once before, and doesn’t want to go through that again. But with encouragement from his friends, students, and pastor, he proceeds to once again go for his dreams and prove that nothing is impossible.

The film has a lot of humor strewn throughout—much of it coming from the Nick character who’s yelling at the team, or getting into biblical arguments with the pastor. There’s also the obligatory inspirational training music montage as Scott gets in shape and advances through the initial tryouts. The film also has some more dramatic moments, which can get a bit over-the-top and melodramatic at times, such as Scott yelling to the sky in the rain asking God why he’s being tested. At times the film also requires some suspension of disbelief—just the idea that the main character is only 39 years old (in this way I couldn’t help but be reminded of Zachary Levi in American Underdog), or how every character gets their own happy ending, no mater how illogical it may be. However, despite some of the ridiculousness, it still remains an entertaining film.

Sony does not have a Blu-ray release for Nothing Is Impossible, though the film has been released in 4K on Digital. I was sent the DVD for review, which has a pretty solid presentation, but not without some flaws. The picture is generally clean—I noticed some banding in the blue sky at the start of the film, but I didn’t really notice any after that. The picture doesn’t look quite as sharp and detailed as a Blu-ray would, but it was certainly more than sufficient to fully enjoy the film without distraction. Dialogue is clear throughout, and the surround sound is utilized to provide some immersive ambiance, such as the roar of the basketball game crowds, or when the elements are raining down on Scott. The disc comes packed in a standard DVD case, without a slipcover or digital copy. Unfortunately there is no bonus material included.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:46:04)

480i / Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English, English SDH

Extras:

There is no bonus material included on the disc.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Worth a Look

Nothing is Impossible is your typical inspirational sports film about someone trying to beat the odds, and turning to their faith in a time of adversity. It’s a little predictable and over-the-top at times, and the drama can be a bit melodramatic, but the story and characters are entertaining, the film has some fun moments. The content is for the most part family-friendly, and would make a good choice for those looking for an inspirational film the whole family can enjoy together.