Next Goal Wins – Film Review

The biographical sports comedy-drama film Next Goal Wins tells the epic and almost legendary tale of a struggling team’s unlikely comeback to victory. The film, which was directed by Taika Waititi, follows Dutch-American football coach Thomas Rongen as he works to establish the American Samoa national team as a formidable football force. Nevertheless, the end result of the film will surely leave viewers unsatisfied.

Waititi presents an ambitious journey filled with captivating performances, chiefly from Michael Fassbender, blending elements of comedy and drama in a script co-written with Iain Morris, which is based on the 2014 documentary by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison.

The plot drifts into a classic tale of underdogs triumphing over hardship. We’ve all seen these feel-good, sports-themed films where the coach motivates an oddball team. And in a way, Next Goal Wins depends too much on these well-worn cliches without offering enough surprises or depth to make a real difference. It seems hesitant to deviate from the route set by its numerous forebears, yet it manages to capture the poignant and inspirational moments. A thrillingly original and fascinating journey was ruined by this cliched storyline.

One instance in which Next Goal Wins aspires to be unique is in Kaimana‘s nuanced and sensitive portrayal of fa’afafine player Jaiyah Saelua. With Jaiyah’s persona defying both social and athletic conventions, she becomes the first transgender player to play in a World Cup. However, the way this story thread is handled feels very haphazard. While it provides representation, it is not thoroughly explored and frequently tends to be overshadowed by the main sports narrative.

The ensemble cast’s performances give the film its heart and energy. As Rongen, Michael Fassbender excels as a performance artist. He portrays the essence of a stubborn, jaded coach with regrets from the past who still cares about his motley crew with convincing ease. Nevertheless, despite Rongen’s performance, the character’s development is still dreadfully shallow and doesn’t really connect with the audience.

Oscar Kightley as Tavita, David Fane as Ace, and Rachel House as Ruth all deliver strong supporting turns that infuse the film with warmth and reinforce its central theme of diversity and unity. Beulah Koale and Elisabeth Moss deserve special recognition for making the most of their little on-screen time.

Next Goal Wins visually strikes a balance between comedy and drama, but its pacing is a little off in certain spots. Although the cinematography is good, it could have been even better with more imaginative and poignant angles. There are times when the editing seems awkward, with humorous scenes awkwardly incorporated into serious storylines. These flaws undermine what could have been a cohesive film.

Under Waititi’s direction, Next Goal Wins veers between comedy, drama, and sports clichés, falters, then recovers. Although Fassbender and the rest of the cast put forth admirable efforts, the film suffers from an uninspired plot that frequently follows the same route. It fails to make a strong impression even though it presents a passable, entertaining picture with a few genuine emotional moments.

Overall, Next Goal Wins‘ touching moments and friendly depiction of an underdog team will appeal to some viewers. However, it lacks the depth and distinctiveness to rank among the great sports movies that stick with you long after the last whistle blows.

As a result, the film falls comfortably into the middle of the pack; it’s a fun watch that falls short of its high expectations but isn’t the worst either. It achieves some commendable moments, but when the full time whistle blows, Next Goal Wins feels like it has settled for a score-draw when it could have been pushing for the win.