NEXT GOAL WINS (2023) - Movie Review

Director: Taika Waititi
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, Beulah Koale, Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sport
Writer: Taika Waititi, Iain Morris
Runtime: 104 min
Rated: PG-13 for some strong language and crude material
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Academy Award® winner Taika Waititi (Best Adapted Screenplay, 2019, “Jojo Rabbit”) directs this heartfelt, underdog comedy based on a true story and written by Waititi and Iain Morris. “Next Goal Wins” follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team into winners. This funny, uplifting film also features Will Arnett and Elisabeth Moss.

Review:

Based on the true story of American Samoa's soccer team, previously known for the 2001 record-breaking 31-0 defeat at the hands of Australia's team, Taika Waititi's sports comedy "Next Goal Wins" features the director's trademark quirky humor, a great cast and a warm fuzzy vibe.

Waititi's movies can be funny. Just look at "What We Do in the Shadows" and "Jojo Rabbit". But when his brand of humor is left unchecked it can ruin a movie ("Thor: Love and Thunder" comes to mind). "Next Goal Wins" is thankfully much more balanced in that regard, but whether it's hilarious or just worth a few chuckles is up for debate. Much of it is too silly for its own good, and the characters sometimes feel like caricatures. I also groaned at the pointless references to pop culture phenomenons like "The Matrix" or "The Karate Kid". Can no movie be written these days without pop culture references ?

The movie's strenghth lies in its stranger-than-fiction true story and coach Thomas Rongen's clash with Samoan culture. The basic formula of the underdog story remains unchanged, Waititi losing points for originality as the movie checks all the requisite boxes. Michael Fassbender is well known for his dark, intense roles, but he certainly has a knack for comedy, and he's perfect for this role. When the story demands a heavier emotional tone, Fassbender delivers emotion in spades. The rest of the cast is great, even though the Samoan characters are a bit thinly written.

I enjoyed the movie, had a couple of laughs, but pretty much forgot about it an hour later. Even though Waititi mixes football with deeper themes pertaining to identity, family through community and the importance of finding inner peace, the movie never amounts to anything more than an average uplifting sports comedy. And that's not a bad thing, it's certainly a lot of fun in the moment, but I expected more from a unique talent like Taika Waititi.

SCORE: 7/10