NEXT GOAL WINS reviewed by GREG KING
Director: Taika Waititi
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Elisabeth Moss, Will Arnett, Rhys Darby, Kaimana, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Uli Latukefu, Chris Alosio, Semu Filipo, Lehi Makisi Falepapalangi, Taika Waititi, Rachel House.
Hollywood loves its inspirational underdog sporting stories, and with Next Goal Wins New Zealand director Taika Waititi has served up a beauty with this winning comedy about the American Samoa soccer team, regarded as the worst in the world.
At the 2001 qualifying round for the World Cup American Samoa was humiliated by Australia’s Socceroos, who thrashed the team 31-0. As a result of the worst defeat in soccer history American Samoa’s team was relegated to the bottom of the FIFA world rankings. Eager to turn around the team’s fortunes and to prepare them for the upcoming Oceania region qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Tavita (a genial Oscar Kightley), the head of the football federation, reaches out for a new coach. All Tavita wants is for the Samoan team to score one goal, something they have been unable to do in 23 years of competition.
Thus, they get Dutch-American Thomas Rongen (played here by Michael Fassbender), a down on his luck and alcoholic coach who had just been sacked as coach of the US’s Men’s Under 20 Soccer Team largely due to his volatile temperament and anger issues. Rongen is offered the job as a lifeline by FIFA.
Initially Thomas is resentful of being posted to this remote island outpost and finds it hard to adjust to the laid-back charm and quirky customs of this sleepy little island. He also finds it a struggle to whip this dysfunctional team of misfits into shape as most of the team have menial jobs and struggle with the basic skills of the sport. Their laid-back approach rankles with the very serious and professional Rongen.
One key subplot follows the character of Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana), a transgender athlete who just wants acceptance and to be taken seriously. She is the only player with any real talent but is unreliable as she is dealing with her own personal issues. Her journey is also as important as that of Rongen and the team and is almost deserving of its own film.
Waititi of course injected an irreverent touch into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his take on Thor: Ragnarok and his comic sensibility and light touch are a perfect fit for this film which has been inspired and shaped by the award winning 2014 documentary of the same name from Mike Brett and Steve Jamieson. Of course, Waititi and co-writer Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners, etc) have taken some liberties with the story for dramatic effect. They also affectionately play up the customs of the island and its people for good natured laughs, but they effectively bring the characters and the sense of community to life.
The filmmakers also incorporated some footage from the documentary. Fans of the sports genre will get plenty of training montages and team building, all building towards an uplifting conclusion. The film was shot on location in Hawaii, which doubles for American Samoa, and cinematographer Lachlan Milne (Hunt For The Wilderpeople, etc) does a good job capturing the setting.
Fassbender has a strong and intense screen persona and comedy has not really been his forte, but somehow he manages to inject some empathy and humour into his take on Rongen, who is clearly a fish out of water here. Fassbender leans into his softer side even though he is given to explosive displays of temper at frequent intervals. Kightley brings plenty of warmth and charm and infectious humour to his role as the likeable and unflappable Tavita who shares some words of wisdom with Rongen and subtly changes his outlook. In her film debut Kaimana is also very good and brings empathy to her role. The supporting cast includes Elisabeth Moss as Thomas’ ex-wife Gail, with Will Arnett and Rhys Darby providing comic support as officials of the US soccer federation. Angus Sampson and Luke Hemsworth add humour with their boisterous cameos.
Next Goal Wins is an enjoyable crowd pleaser, even though it sticks to a tried-and-true formula for this subgenre. However, there are also a couple of missteps along the way, including Waititi himself whose unnecessary appearance as an eccentric priest bookends the main drama.
★★★
