23 Blast

When a high school football star is suddenly stricken with irreversible, total blindness, he must decide whether to live a safe, protected life or to summon the courage through playing football to step back into the world. 23 Blast is based on the amazing, true story of Travis Freeman. A typical teenager growing up in a small town in Kentucky, Travis is a local hero on and off the field. In the prime of his youth, he is unexpectedly stricken with an infection that destroys his optic nerve; he becomes blind overnight. Under the influence of parents who love him, a physical therapist who challenges him, a coach who inspires him, and a best friend who he cannot bear to leave behind, Travis shows us what true bravery is by competing on the gridiron, helping his team advance to the State playoffs. We follow Travis and Jerry Baker, his closest friend, from the time they meet on the football field as kids through high school. Jerry’s attraction to the dark side of teenage temptations threatens to pull the friends apart. It is only on the football field where they truly connect.

Dove Review

This is a remarkable movie based on true life events. Travis Freeman plays for a high school football team in Kentucky, the Corbin Redhounds. He is a talented wide receiver who loses his sight due to a serious infection. He has to rebuild his life and, surprisingly, this includes still playing football when his coach gets the idea to bring him back on the team. In a dramatic turn of events, Travis gets the opportunity to play for his team in a game that could send them to the play-offs.

This movie features a theme of walking by faith and not by sight. The loyalty of Travis’ friend, quarterback Jerry Baker, and the faith of his coach, is inspiring. We are recommending this moving story for ages twelve plus, due to a few instances of language. Watching this movie is an experience the viewer will not soon forget.

Dove Rating Details

Faith

None

Integrity

Football player moves so kid will fall; some roughhousing on football field.

Sex

Kissing by a teenage couple.

Language

Dear Lord-1; D-3; H-2; Crap-2; Butt-3; Loser-2; Son of a... (Not Finished)-2; Geez-1

Violence

Football player moves so kid will fall; some roughhousing on football field.

Drugs

Teenagers at a party drinking beer from a keg; underage drinking a few times by a student who has a weakness for it but his close friends do not condone it; talk of drug use by a student; cigar smoking by a few characters; an "Are you high?" question.

Nudity

Cleavage; shirtless young men a few times.

Other

A student says he used to cheat in Math class; family deals with blindness of son; young man lets blind friend drive truck in school parking lot; tension between a few characters.

More Information

Film Information

Genre

Drama

Runtime

Rating

N/A

Reviewer

Edwin L. Carpenter

Actors

Alexa Vega, Becky Ann Baker, Bram Hoover, Fred Thompson, Kim Zimmer, Mark Hapka, Max Adler, Stephen Lang, Timothy Busfield

Writers

Bram Hoover, Toni Hoover

Directors

Dylan Baker

Producers

Touchdown Productions LLC

Studios

Ocean Avenue Entertainment