Next Goal Wins takes what should be an inspirational and heartwarming story and makes it awkward, cringey, and borderline racist.
Next Goal Wins tells the true story of the American Samoa soccer team that once lost a game to Australia 31-0, which is exceptionally bad. All they want is to score a goal. Just one goal. So they bring in a coach, who of course is white, to come and save the day. Now, this is based on a true story, so there is only so much you can change, but the white savior energy is all over this movie — making it cringe from the start.
Kicking off with what works about the movie, there are a handful of jokes that land. When they work, they really work. But when the don’t work, oof… it is not a good thing. The camaraderie of the team is commendable and it is lovely to see them all working together and having fun. They don’t care that they aren’t scoring goals or winning games, they just want to have a good time and that is a great message to send out into the world.
Michael Fassbender is a great actor, however he made a poor choice to be a part of this movie. His character arc is so predictable that it makes the majority of his performance useless. Some of the things that come out of his mouth are absolutely horrific, even though that is the exact point of them. The dialogue makes a lot of his earlier scenes very hard to get through without rolling your eyes.
Not only does he arrive and immediately shame the people on the island for their customs and for being so religious, he goes on to insult one of the players by using their dead name. If you ask me, she forgives him far too quickly. He did it to hurt her, and it was clear that he did just that. It is a horrible scene to watch.
Kaimana, who plays Jaiyah, is the clear stand out in Next Goal Wins. She steals scenes left and right from Fassbender, bringing the much needed heart and empathy to the film. Oscar Kightley, who plays Tavita, will also tug at viewers’ heartstrings while simultaneously making them chuckle.
Sure, by the end Fassbender’s character gets along well with the people of American Samoa, but he treats them so poorly that it is impossible to forgive. Of course, the team was atrocious, not even able to score one goal, until the white man showed up. Even with this being a real story, it is hard to watch on screen as it is the epitome of a white savior.
Overall, Next Goal Wins is able to tell an bit of an inspirational and heartwarming story, although the journey to get there isn’t pretty. Even though this film is based on a true story, the white savior energy cannot be ignored. At times, the movie goes so far as to feel racist and cringeworthy. Taika Waititi has his own taste and his own way of giving the world humor.
Because of this What We Do In The Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok work extremely well, however when put into an underdog sports story about American Samoa, it all feels unnecessary and bizarre. Waititi’s character is the first to appear on screen and just by the way he introduces himself, it is clear this movie is going to be more awkward than funny.
The real story of the American Samoa soccer/football team is one that deserves to be told. Just not like this.
Rating: 2 out of 5
NEXT: I.S.S. Review: A Bit Too Generic & Predictable
About Next Goal Wins
Based on a true story, this heartfelt underdog comedy follows the American Samoa soccer team, infamous for their brutal 31-0 FIFA loss in 2001. With the World Cup qualifiers fast approaching, the team hires down-on-his-luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team into winners.
Next Goal Wins Bonus Features**
- Featurette
- Creating The Pitch of Life – Explore filmmaker Taika Waititi’s loving homage to American Samoa, Polynesian culture, and the sports movie in this delightfully entertaining short-form documentary. See what it took to make a winning movie about the losingest soccer team in the world.
- Deleted Scene
- Priest Blessing the Team
**Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Next Goal Wins is available from all major digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu now, and arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on February 27, with never-before-seen bonus content including Taika Waititi’s homage to American Samoa, Polynesian culture, and sports movies.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.