It’s not a secret that a lot of people think the American Samoa national football team stinks. Even their own players think they stink. Well, it is all because no one really ever taught them the game of football properly. So maybe, with a new coach, they’ll get to play the game the right way and hopefully end their scoring drought.
It is bad enough that they cannot win even if their lives depend on it, but somehow it got a lot worse when the alcoholic Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) got assigned to be their head coach. He coached national teams before but got such a bad reputation in games for his anger issues that the U.S. Soccer Federation President, Alex Magnussen (Will Arnett), and his ex-wife, Gail (Elisabeth Moss), had to expel him to American Samoa.
But Thomas is so wrapped up in his own mad world that he fails to connect with his new team. He disrespected their traditions. He disrespected their laws. He disrespected their team captain, Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana). Despite the best efforts of the manager of the American Samoa team, Tavita Taumua (Oscar Kightley), they can’t seem to get along with him.
But over the next few weeks, Thomas could no longer ignore the perseverance of such a losing squad to play the game. They’re not competitive. They’re not fit. Yet, they show up for practice and work multiple jobs to keep the team alive.
Thomas eventually feels that the team needs him, and they’re not really asking him that much. All they want is for him to help them score a goal. Not to win. But to score a single goal.
Taika Waititi built himself a solid filmography. From Boy to Jojo Rabbit, they’re all funny comedies. But ironically, his films work best if he doesn’t let himself get carried away with the gags. Remember Thor: Love and Thunder and the fuss it created in the Marvel fandom when he couldn’t seem to take it seriously? Taika’s best movies are those that balance the heart and the humor, and he often finds this in stories about underdogs, misfits, and losers, not exactly in overpowered Viking gods.
Next Goal Wins checks all the boxes to be Taika’s next big thing. It’s a sports drama that is never short of inspirational side stories, from Thomas Rongen’s redemption to the first openly non-binary and trans woman in Jaiyah Saelua. As a Polynesian himself, Taika understands the gravity of this triumphant story for American Samoans. They’re a small island, but they're always so humble and proud of their culture.
So when it comes off as less funny than expected, it might’ve been because Taika was at his most careful not to offend anyone. However, this wariness to jest around cramps the comedy. It created weird and dull jokes that are safe but not ever funny, like the big boobs bet on Tavita’s face and Thomas randomly saying lines from famous movies. The lack of humor deprives the film of any sense of fun.
As for the heart, it’s the characters. Jaiyah Saelua is the most interesting person in the whole football club, and it is right to focus on her, as her journey is what makes Next Goal Wins a jubilant one. Other characters like Ace, Daru Taumua, and Nicky Salapu also had their moments. Taika has this natural ability to turn any characters into lovable goofballs, so it’s not hard to root for them and their success in the end. The problem is that only one character really developed into something worth remembering in the end.
If you’re all about the destination and not the journey, you will love this film and the big football match finale. The final minutes of Next Goal Wins knot everything that happened beautifully, despite the lots of bumps and the hurried screenplay. But if the development and metamorphosis of the team matter to you more than anything, then it would be better to just skip this one instead.
2.5/5
