Synopsis
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.
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Cast
- Mark HapkaTravis Freeman
- Bram HooverJerry Baker
- Stephen LangCoach Farris
- Max AdlerCameron Marshall
- Alexa PenaVegaAshley
- Dylan BakerLarry Freeman
- Kim ZimmerMary Freeman
- Becky Ann BakerPatty Wheatley
- Timothy BusfieldDuncan
- Fred ThompsonCoach Powers
Recommendations
- 75
San Francisco Chronicle
There’s the sense here that living in a tiny community can either make you bigger or smaller, and in 23 Blast we see both types, from the petty to the stoic and self-reliant. - 63
Chicago Sun-Times
The message of inspiration is strong and certainly qualifies as solid family entertainment. I only wish there were fewer trite truisms scattered throughout the script and less predictable dialogue for the solid troupe of actors to deliver. - 60
Village Voice
Dylan Baker's film bests larger-budgeted fare like When the Game Stands Tall thanks to ace acting, a humble spirit, and all-around sturdy craftsmanship. - 60
The Hollywood Reporter
Stepping behind the camera, versatile actor Dylan Baker makes an assured directorial debut, drawing spirited performances from his seasoned cast while mainly steering clear of the usual, treacly movie-of-the week conventions that often go with the territory. - 50
Washington Post
Despite the decent performances, the script by first-time screenwriter Toni Hoover (who reportedly Googled “how to write a screenplay” after deciding to chronicle the story of her blinded football-playing friend) swings from flat to overly sentimental, while Baker’s rookie direction is predictable and occasionally confusing. - 50
Variety
A fairly predictable yarn that’s lighthearted and well-acted. - 40
Los Angeles Times
Once tragedy strikes, the clichés in Bram and Toni Hoover's screenplay win out, and Baker never stirs up enough energy to make it feel any different from a thousand other tales of underdog triumph. - 40
The New York Times
Although the film has moments when it’s serious about exploring the challenges that someone in Travis’s situation faces, it ultimately prefers to be just another football movie with a hokey big-game ending.
