Movie Breakdown: Next Goal Wins
Pre-Screening Stance:
Thor: Love And Thunder was so terrible that it’s now easy to side-eye Taika Waititi and wonder if he’s still got any of the magic that helped him create standout films like Hunt For The Wilderpeople and Thor: Ragnarok. Fortunately, Next Goal Wins does look like fun, so maybe there’s a chance it serves as a return to form for Taika.
Post-Screening Ramble:
Next Goal Wins is what I would describe as just fine, but it really doesn’t do much towards making me fully come back around on Taika Waititi. It has some of his usual charm, humor, and heart, but it also feels like a film crafted by someone who is either out of ideas or just needs a break. The based-on-a-true-story movie starts with what I would call an ill-advised and forced appearance by Waititi as the narrator – he sets the base of the story, which is that American Samoa has always been the absolute worst at soccer/football. On the flip side of this, Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) has always been great at it, but his bad attitude and short temper have repeatedly gotten him fired. After his latest ousting, he’s told he has to take the coaching job in American Samoa or he may be pushed out of soccer/football forever. So, off he goes, right into a bubble of sports dramedy.
I’ll give Waititi credit, if you’re hanging in a hotel room or on a flight, Next Goal Wins is a perfect viewing fit for that situation. You don’t need to pay a ton of attention to it, and if you are tuned into the film, it’s fluffy enough to help you pass the time. Ultimately though, Next Goal Wins just doesn’t land like some of Waititi’s better efforts. It comes off like he plucked a story that he thought would best fit his style instead of picking one he truly wanted to tell, meaning that the movie feels sort of lazy and uninspired. I wouldn’t say this unfortunate turn renders Next Goal Wins unwatchable or something, but it stands out enough for me to note that you should dial down your expectations for the film.
The film hits theaters this Friday, November 17. Your mileage may vary.
One Last Thought:
I get why Waititi opted to focus on Rongen in Next Goal Wins – the fish out of water approach makes for some layup laughs and there’s plenty of joy to be had when the grumpy coach finally buys into the team made up of lovable goofs. However, the American Samoa side has some great stories that deserved all the attention, like the redemption of goalkeeper Nicky Salapu (Uli Latukefu) or the trials and tribulations of Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana), the only trans woman to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
One More Last Thought:
There’s a scene in Talk To Me where a couple of characters are blasting Sia’s Chandelier in their car, and there’s a near-identical moment in Next Goal Wins. Coincidence? Yes, I imagine it has to be, but it’s weird that a song from 2014 would get so prominently placed in a pair of 2023 films.
