‘Next Goal Wins’ (2023)
The classic “underdog sports story” genre gains a new entry with Taika Waititi‘s perfectly enjoyable Next Goal Wins. Based (very loosely) on the 2014 documentary of the same name, Next Goal Wins opens with real footage of a world-record setting blowout during the 2001 FIFA World Cup qualifiers — Australia 31, American Samoa 0. The movie then jumps to the early 2010s, and the Football Federation American Samoa want to reverse their luck. The goal? Score a goal. Just one — with the hopes of eventually qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. The federation hires Dutch-born, American-based coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) to try and whip the squad into shape. From there, it’s pretty simple to figure out where the movie goes, but an unexpected storyline featuring Jaiyah Saelua, the first transgender player to play in a World Cup qualifier, tugs at the heartstrings thanks to a breakout performance by Kaimana. If you like underdog stories, training montages set to pop songs, and happy endings, check out Next Goal Wins for an amusing movie night pick.