When Curiosity Becomes the Real Competition

Read Time:5 Minute, 38 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
All In
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Genre: Documentary, Sports
Year Released: 2026
Runtime: 30m x 8 episodes
Director(s): Michael Bourquin, Ben Cox
Where to Watch: debuting May 14, 2026, on AMI-tv and AMI+

RAVING REVIEW: Eight episodes, thirty minutes each, and not a single second drags. ALL IN moves fast, but it never feels rushed, which is a harder balance to pull off than it looks. ALL IN builds its entire identity around that idea, and it’s what keeps the series from feeling like just another inspirational sports documentary. Tyler Turner isn’t chasing validation here. He’s chasing something unfamiliar, and that makes all the difference.

Instead of focusing on past achievements, the series keeps its attention fixed on discomfort. Each episode throws Turner into a completely new experience, often one that demands skills that don’t naturally translate from a post-amputee world. That willingness to look inexperienced, to struggle, gives the show an honesty that can’t be faked. It never feels staged, even when the setup is clearly structured.

What stands out most is how approachable the format is. The 30-minute runtime works in the show’s favor, keeping each episode concise without sacrificing substance. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, and more importantly, it doesn’t dilute its message by stretching moments longer than they need to be. You get the introduction, the learning curve, the friction, and the attempt to pull it all together, all without unnecessary padding. That makes it incredibly easy to keep going from one episode to the next without a second thought. While Turner succeeds for the most part, he also isn’t superhuman. His pedigree in physical activity shines, but so too does the reality that he can push himself as far as he can.

The freediving episode sets the tone early, not by going bigger, but by going inward. It’s less about spectacle and more about control, patience, and awareness. Watching Turner adapt to a sport that strips away externalities in favor of internal discipline reframes what the series aims for. It’s not just about proving he can do these things. It’s about understanding how he does them differently, and why that matters. The hurdles he has to overcome, and the way he goes about taking them as a learning experience.

That carries through the rest of the series. Whether he’s working through para climbing or navigating team-based adaptive sports, there’s a constant emphasis on adaptation rather than comparison. The show doesn’t frame these athletes as exceptions. It treats them as specialists in their own right, which gives each interaction a level of respect that feels earned rather than performative.

Turner himself is the piece of the puzzle that holds everything together. There’s no forced persona here. He’s open, direct, and willing to acknowledge when something isn’t working for him. That vulnerability becomes one of the series’ strongest assets. It allows the audience to connect with the process rather than just the outcome. You’re not watching for the win. You’re watching for the readjustment, the moment where something finally works.

The supporting athletes also bring a lot to the table, even in limited screen time. The show doesn’t turn them into background figures meant to elevate Turner. Instead, it gives them space to showcase their expertise and perspective. That balance keeps the series from becoming one-sided and adds depth to each episode’s focus.

Where the series could push further is in its long-term structure. Because each episode resets the premise, there’s a slight sense that nothing fully carries over. The lessons are there, but they don’t always add up to a cumulative whole. A stronger throughline across the season might have added an extra layer of impact, especially as Turner continues to evolve. It would have been interesting to see a ninth episode that recounts his journeys through all these experiences and kind of wraps everything together.

What ALL IN has really perfected is doing everything consistently. It keeps its focus clear, respects its subjects, and understands that inspiration doesn’t need to be exaggerated to be effective. It trusts the process, and that trust pays off.

The series shines because it has a balance of accessibility and substance. You don’t need to have any connection to adaptive sports to engage with it, but by the time an episode ends, you’ve gained a genuine appreciation for the skill and discipline involved. It never talks down to the audience, and it never over-explains what’s already clear.

There’s a confidence running through the show. It doesn’t rely on dramatic framing or forced tension to hold attention. It lets the situations speak for themselves, and more often than not, that’s enough. Each episode feels complete, but also leaves just enough curiosity to keep going.

ALL IN succeeds because it knows exactly what it wants to be. It’s not trying to redefine the genre or overwhelm with scale. It’s focused, grounded, and built around the idea of growth happening when you stop relying on what you already know. That clarity keeps the series engaging from start to finish, and it’s what makes it so easy to recommend.

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[photo courtesy of ACCESSIBLE MEDIA INC, CANADA MEDIA FUND, ROGERS SERIES FUND, CREATIVE BC, FILM INCENTIVE BC, THE CANADIAN FILM OR VIDEO PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT]

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