Power, Grit, and Purpose on Full Display

Read Time:4 Minute, 49 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
No Leg Power
–

Genre: Documentary, Short
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 9m
Director(s): Tristan Anthony Ortiz
Where To Watch: shown at the 2025 Slamdance Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: Some short films leave a quiet impression, others charge through the screen like they’ve got something to prove. This one does the latter—and earns every second of your attention. NO LEG POWER doesn’t waste its runtime. It doesn't ask for your sympathy but demands your respect. This documentary finds a pulse in reality and moves forward with purpose.

What’s refreshing here is the film’s confidence in its subject. It doesn’t over-explain or resort to sentimental tricks. CJ Bellamy’s story stands strong on its own: a high-level athlete whose basketball dreams were cut short after an incident left him paralyzed. His future changed overnight, but that wasn’t the end of his journey—it was the beginning of something far more unpredictable. Director Tristan Anthony Ortiz doesn’t frame this as a tragedy, nor does he sell a glossy comeback story. Instead, we get something in between—gritty, sincere, and impressively grounded in its delivery.

Rather than following the standard beats of a redemption arc, the film takes a different route. It explores the recalibration of ambition. Bellamy doesn’t mourn the past on camera. Instead, we see someone who adapts and redefines success on his terms. This isn’t a highlight reel; it’s a documentation of identity re-formed under pressure. When CrossFit enters the picture, it’s not introduced as a miracle cure—it’s presented as a new obsession that channels Bellamy’s competitive drive and forces the audience to reconsider what peak performance looks like.

With all its physical demands and intense subculture, CrossFit isn’t the usual arena for adaptive athletes. That alone makes Bellamy’s presence within it fascinating to watch. But how he carves out space in that world—without making excuses or asking for exceptions—leaves an impression. The film’s structure mirrors his journey: no fluff, no breaks, and always pushing forward.

The heart of the project, though, beats in the mission behind NO LEG POWER—not just the film but the brand itself. What starts as a personal story becomes something larger: a statement. Bellamy’s creation of this brand is far from a just marketing ploy. It’s an extension of the ethos that drives him—resilience, visibility, and agency. He doesn’t want to be the exception in the fitness world. He wants to normalize adaptive strength.

While the focus on Bellamy is justified, a brief look outward—to include perspectives from other adaptive athletes or to explore systemic gaps in fitness culture—could have expanded the conversation. Nine minutes isn’t long, but the film proves its ability to convey this message. The film flirts with being a brand showcase at times, and while that’s not inherently a flaw, it does create a narrow frame that could’ve used just a bit more breadth.

That said, the community response is undeniable. Since its premiere at Slamdance LA, the short has stirred conversation around adaptive fitness and challenged expectations in sports communities. Its placement in the Unstoppable block wasn’t just symbolic—it fit perfectly among stories of persistence and redefinition. NO LEG POWER feels like a rallying cry, not just for Bellamy’s journey, but for anyone who’s had to rebuild their identity from the ground up.

There's a lesson in storytelling here. The film's short runtime is intentional, never straying from its central focus, but manages to hit every emotion. It’s confident, effective, and shot with purpose. The takeaway isn’t just about what Bellamy overcame—it’s about what he built afterward and how he continues to carry others.

When the credits roll, there’s a moment of stillness. You walk away thinking about redefinition. It’s rare for something this short to leave a lasting impact, but this one does—and not because it yells at you, but because it quietly refuses to be ignored.

NO LEG POWER doesn’t play the victim card, and it never tries to be a feel-good package wrapped in soft lighting. It’s an urgent, grounded, compelling snapshot of transformation, resilience, and purpose. And for a nine-minute short, that’s one hell of a legacy to carry.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching Overly Honest Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of VISIONJUMP PRODUCTIONS]

DISCLAIMER:
At Overly Honest Movie Reviews, we value honesty and transparency. Occasionally, we receive free items for review, including DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, Vinyl, Books, etc. We assure you that these arrangements do not influence our reviews, as we are committed to providing unbiased and sincere evaluations. We aim to help you make informed entertainment choices, regardless of our relationship with distributors or producers.

Amazon Affiliate Links:
Additionally, this site contains Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may receive a commission. This affiliate arrangement does not affect our commitment to honest reviews and helps support our site. We appreciate your trust and support in navigating these links.