Based on the documentary of the same name, Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoa soccer team and how they rally from their embarrassing 31-0 defeat to return to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers with their new coach. It’s a sports tale old as time but now interpreted by Academy Award winner, Taika Waititi. He’s taken on vampires, Norse gods, and WWII satire. Just how would he fare with an underdog sports movie? While it’s not Waititi’s strongest movie to date, he delivers a serviceable sports comedy that feels like a return to form in many ways but lacking his originality.

When given the chance, Taika Waititi has a knack for small-scaled comedies that pack an emotional punch. After Waititi exploded into the MCU with his Thor movies, it’s nice to see Waititi return to his roots with a smaller film like Next Goal Wins. If Thor: Love and Thunder had you doubting Waititi’s comedic sensibilities, Next Goal Wins brings it back to basics. When the comedy comes into play, he nails the timing in order for the joke to make an impact. For instance, there’s a scene involving an overhead projector that lasts just long enough before the joke gets old. Yet at times, it does feel like Waititi pulled back the comedy you’d expect to find in one of his films. For a story like this, there were moments where it felt like the movie should have been funnier. Maybe he was trying to strike a perfect balance of comedy and the dramatic elements, or maybe he’s evolving what to expect from one of his films moving forward. Who’s to say except for the man himself.

Michael Fassbender stars as Thomas Rongen, the coach hired to turn the American Samoa team around. Fassbender seamlessly blends grief with humor as he captures the portrait of a grieving man attempting to avoid his pain. Between this and The Killer, it’s refreshing to see him stretch his comedic muscles and show off his range as an actor. In addition to Fassbender, Kaimana shines as Jaiyah Saelua, the first openly trans woman to compete in a FIFA World Cup qualifier. In her acting debut, Kaimana brings depth to Jaiyah that keeps you as equally invested in her story alongside the overall journey of the American Samoa soccer team. While the movie takes the time to dig more into her story, much of her arc is less to do with the team, which is strange because at one point she’s made captain. Instead of showing how she’s a vital link to the team, Jaiyah goes through undue pain just for the sake of exposing transphobia. 

Regardless of the overall feel-good nature of Next Goal Wins, we can’t discuss this film without the Emmy winning Apple TV+ juggernaut in the room– Ted Lasso. To be fair, Next Goal Wins had wrapped filming in January 2020, was postponed due to COVID-19, and had to undergo reshoots after Will Arnett replaced Armie Hammer. Ted Lasso happened to beat out Next Goal Wins to reach audiences in 2020. It is really unfair to compare the film to Ted Lasso, but after watching the film, it’s hard not to ignore the similarities. 

(Apologies for light spoilers for the series!) A coach separated from his wife moves to a different country to coach soccer for a down on their luck team; from his impact, the team will rally and give the community around them something to hope in. Throw in some jokes and deeply emotional moments from the head coach and the players, and you’d think you were watching a feature length episode of Ted Lasso. There’s actually a joke where Ace yells “whistle” instead of blowing a whistle, which Roy Kent does the same thing in Ted Lasso. 

While the film does its best to dig into the emotional strings that makes Ted Lasso great, it falls short of landing the same impact. A major part of this because the players themselves tend to fade into the background at times in the film. Much of the dramatic aspects to the film fall on Rongen and Jaiyah’s shoulders, leaving the rest of the team to keep the mostly physical comedy through their less-than-stellar skills. Any attempt at something more heartfelt from anyone else is interrupted at the expense of a joke. Without knowing more about the players, their eventual victory doesn’t land in the same way.

Even though Taika Waititi and co-writer Iain Morris could’ve rounded out the players and the community more, they still deliver on a tried and true story that mostly works. It’s hard not to root for an underdog sports story. Everyone loves to see how an unlucky team rises from defeat in order to triumph. That’s why Ted Lasso has been extremely successful, and it’s why Next Goal Wins continues this trend. In a world that continues to feel bleak with each passing day, movies like Next Goal Wins acts as a balm, reminding audiences that it’s ok to hope even when the odds are against you. 

Grade: C+

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Where to Watch: In Theaters