Movie Review: Anything’s Possible | Pittsburgh Magazine

Here’s an unsurprising: Billy Porter’s film appears to be like nice.

The multi-hyphenate star, an undoubtable trend icon, clearly has a knack for color and style. So it makes utter sense that his directorial debut, the romcom “Something’s Potential,” would have an immaculate visible type. The colour is vivid, with a special palette for every character — not merely of their apparel, however within the gentle and manufacturing components that encompass them. His rhythm and visible language, too, is full of life and contemporary.

In distinction — and correctly — he performs the plot comparatively down the center. It’s an outdated story, vividly informed.

A teen romance via and thru, “Something’s Potential” follows the senior 12 months of Kelsa (Eva Reign), a trendy younger Pittsburgher with goals of changing into a wildlife videographer. Throughout the easels in an artwork class, she begins to fall for Khal (Abubakr Ali), an awkward-yet-charming man who doesn’t fairly know the place he’s headed after commencement.

The primary half-hour of “Something’s Potential” will get the pair collectively; the second complicates issues. A good friend of Khal’s is proof against his buddy relationship Kelsa, who’s trans; a good friend of Kelsa’s had her personal emotions for Khal and turns into one thing of a jilted villain. Basically, that is each different romcom, delivered in an pleasant, contemporary package deal.

Of native curiosity: A part of that packaging is a jumbo-sized serving of Pittsburgh. Khal and Kelsa take a primary date to Phipps Conservatory (which subtly transforms into the Nationwide Aviary halfway via the night, however we’ll let that slide) and wander Downtown in between courses, which have been filmed at Pittsburgh CAPA. In a single civics class, college students are quizzed on the administrations of varied metropolis mayors; that is, in my reminiscence, the one movie that discusses the accomplishments of Sophie Masloff.

Porter has crafted a imaginative and prescient of the Pittsburgh he loves. Extra importantly, he’s made a superb, pleasant movie; whereas “Something’s Potential” is a bit skinny within the again half, it’s too successful to ever turn into tedious. Credit score can also be attributable to Reign, who brings charisma and a pure film magnetism in what must be a breakout function.

And sure, Porter’s voice is everywhere in the infectiously catchy soundtrack. What’s to not love?

My Score: 8/10

“Something’s Potential” is streaming on Amazon Prime.