"Next Goal Wins," co-written and directed by Taika Waititi and Iain Morris,
unfolds the true story of Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen tasked with
reviving American Samoa's football team after their historic 31-0 loss.
The film navigates the underdog sports movie formula, occasionally mocking
clichés and relying on our conditioned response to such narratives. Michael
Fassbender portrays Rongen, a problematic central figure, overshadowing
underdeveloped supporting characters.
The film's focus on Rongen's redemption, particularly through his
relationship with transgender player Jaiyah Saelua, is handled with mixed
success, skirting condescension.
Despite a rah-rah sports movie ending, "Next Goal Wins" struggles with sour
tones, uneven handling of serious moments, and a reliance on familiar movie
tropes, making its success seem inadvertent rather than intentional. |