Next Goal Wins is the latest polarizing film from writer and director Taika Waititi. It stars Michael Fassbender, Elizabeth Moss, Kaimana and, as is often the case, Waititi himself. The film follows Thomas Rongen (Fassbender), a down-on-his-luck soccer coach, who takes a job to coach the American Samoa soccer team, the lowest-ranked team in the FIFA world rankings. 

Whether it was the COVID-19 pandemic or Armie Hammer, who was originally cast in Will Arnett’s role, the film has taken years to cement a release date. Originally slated for 2020, countless delays and reshoots kept the film from completion. On November 17^th, “Next Goal Wins” will finally make its theatrical debut. 

Based on the 2014 documentary of the same name, Next Goal Wins hits all the beats of most sports dramas. With films like Hoosiers, Cool Runnings, and most recently Champions, the plethora of films about a struggling coach coaching a terrible team is impressive. Although the film has a standard narrative structure, Waititi is aware of the cliches but still manages to have fun with them.  

Waititi’s directing style is very in-your-face, making it noticeably clear what kind of tone he is going for through his comedy and editing. It paid off in films like Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Jojo Rabbit, but it started to become stale with last year’s Thor: Love and Thunder, where bad comedy was favored over emotional impact. With Next Goal Wins, he has returned to his original roots of blending comedy and drama. Although there are several jokes that do not land, his balance of being funny and serious works better here than in his past few films.  

The tone of the film works perfectly for the story Waititi is attempting to tell. Through several montages, Next Goal Wins clearly defines that the American Samoa soccer team is terrible. Waititi crafts a set of characters who don’t take themselves too seriously. They are not used for satire like Waititi’s other films, but rather to understand the American Samoan culture and their fond appreciation of life.  

The performances from top to bottom are stellar. Michael Fassbender proves why he is one of the best actors of this generation as he morphs into a character with incredible range and emotion. Between the script, he communicates so much about his character that few other actors could achieve. Whether it be anger, sadness, or joy, Fassbender makes his character entertaining yet human.  

Another welcome standout of the cast is Kaimana, who plays Jaiyah, the first non-binary soccer player to ever play in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They have the most screen time behind Fassbender, and they eat up each minute they are on screen. Although their storyline focuses on their gender, Kaimana offers emotional and personable attributes that keep her character from being one-note. Their arch of being who you are fits their character and mirrors the overarching themes of the film. 

Elizabeth Moss, who’s always turning in great performances, is given little to work with as Gail, Rongen’s ex-wife. She’s essentially playing the “divorced wife” role seen in too many sports films like King Richard, where the wife/ex-wife of a coach dislikes their husband’s morals yet supports their profession anyway, at the expense of their marriage. Though Moss does an excellent job of playing the kind of wet blanket required by the film, the script, written by Waititi and Iain Morris, needed to go deeper to really show off Moss’s talent. Strengthening her character would have given the film a longer-lasting impact after the credits.  

Waititi’s sardonic dialogue and satirical screenplay bring new awareness to the soccer team. In the hands of another director, this part of the team’s history would likely be played as melodramatic, but Waititi makes it feel as if it is the best moment in their history as a team. Next Goal Wins succeeds in discussing the acknowledgment of humanity’s flaws and how appreciating what is around them is the proper way to celebrate life. It succeeds in its themes by having the audience follow the protagonist who discovers these ideas.  

The themes in the film are primarily viewed through Thomas and Jaiyah’s character arcs. Thomas’s anger replaces the sadness he has from his past while Jaiyah struggles with her image. They start to realize what they need to do in their lives through each other and by the citizens of American Samoa. The chemistry between the actors was electric enough that it made me forget any flaws I had with the script. By the end of the film, both characters understand what is best for each other and begin to flourish.  

Next Goal Wins may have a traditional story, but it is told in a fresh and invigorating way that only Waititi is best at providing. Waititi clearly cares about the story and the people while having lots of fun telling it. It may not be as rich or thought-provoking as other sports dramas like Warrior, but it does a wonderful job of keeping entertainment and filmmaking at a high. 

Next Goal Wins will be released in theaters nationwide on November 17.

OSCAR POTENTIAL:

• Although Next Goal Wins has a great screenplay – Waititi himself is a screenplay winner for Jojo Rabbit – and excellent performances, it will struggle to get into either category. Not to be forgotten, Next Goal Wins comes out the same day as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Trolls: Band Together, and the wide release of The Holdovers, which will not do it any favors in the cultural consciousness. It may get some support from smaller critics groups, but the likely poor box office performance and Searchlight prioritizing Poor Things leaves Next Goal Wins with a slim chance at any nomination.