ComedyDrama

Next Goal Wins

- Be happy.

Dutch coach Thomas Rongen attempts the nearly impossible task of turning the American Samoa soccer team from perennial losers into winners.

Release Date : 2023-11-16

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : The ImaginariumSearchlight PicturesTSG EntertainmentGarrett Basch ProductionsDefender FilmsArcher's Mark

Production Country : New ZealandUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Thomas Rongen

Original Name : Michael Fassbender

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tavita

Original Name : Oscar Kightley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jaiyah

Original Name : Kaimana

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ace

Original Name : David Fane

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ruth

Original Name : Rachel House

Gender : Female

Character Name : Daru

Original Name : Beulah Koale

Gender : Male

Character Name : American Samoan Priest

Original Name : Taika Waititi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alex Magnussen

Original Name : Will Arnett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gail

Original Name : Elisabeth Moss

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nicky Salapu

Original Name : Uli Latukefu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Convenient Store Cashier

Original Name : Sisa Grey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rambo

Original Name : Semu Filipo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jonah

Original Name : Chris Alosio

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pisa

Original Name : Lehi Makisi Falepapalangi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Smiley

Original Name : Ioane Goodhue

Gender : Male

Character Name : Samson

Original Name : Hio Pelesasa

Gender : Male

Character Name : "Who's on the Plane" Reporter

Original Name : Wil Kahele

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rhys Marlin

Original Name : Rhys Darby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Keith

Original Name : Luke Hemsworth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angus Bendleton

Original Name : Angus Sampson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nicole (voice)

Original Name : Kaitlyn Dever

Gender : Female

Character Name : Chief Sila

Original Name : Levy Tuiala

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tongan Player #1

Original Name : James Burghardt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tongan Player #2

Original Name : Patrick Mullen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Game Referee

Original Name : Jonathan J.I. Knox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rambo's Mom

Original Name : Loretta Ables Sayre

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tongan Coach

Original Name : Don Nahaku

Gender : Male

Character Name : American Samoan Woman #1

Original Name : Lori Pelenise Tuisano

Gender : Female

Character Name : American Samoan Woman #2

Original Name : Tulalagalaga Tatalo Wily

Gender : Male

Character Name : Armani

Original Name : Armani Makaiwa

Gender : Male

Character Name : Store Local

Original Name : William Chun

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tongan Player #3

Original Name : Roland Tupola

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tall David

Original Name : David Tu'itupou

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commentator

Original Name : Martin Tyler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Russell Satele (uncredited)

Original Name : Russell Satele

Gender : Male

Reviews

Chris Sawin

@ChrisSawin

2023-11-18

A story with all the proper beats lives here, even if the film rambles and tampers off into ridiculousness when it has no reason to. But even with its flaws and redundant humor fatigue, _Next Goal Wins_ stands out as Taika Waititi’s most coherent film since Hunt for the Wilderpeople. **Full review:** https://bit.ly/dontpassgoal

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-12-30

If you've seen "12 Mighty Orphans" (2021) or "The Shiny Shrimps" (2019) then you'll know what to expect as Taika Waititi takes the same template and applies it to football. Here it's the adequate Michael Fassbender who gets to portray the down on his luck coach (Thomas Rongen) in this factually based story. He's not much good at his job and is temperamentally a bit unreliable, so is dispatched to coach what is officially the world's worst team. American Samoa, still smarting from a 31-0 thumping at the hands of the ever so slightly more populated Australia, has a team whose viability is under scrutiny by the parent American Federation. Can Rongen turn things around? His team are the traditionally disparate group of well-meaning, distinctly amateur, enthusiasts. Unused to any concept of team playing, co-ordination and/or training - and their new boss's predilection for a bottle or two doesn't suggest change is going to come anytime soon. Local federation boss Tavita (Oscar Kightley) manages to inspire though - and what happens now is all rather predictable, but engagingly portrayed, as the team start to realise that defeat each time is not as inevitable as they might expect. It does present us with quite an interesting look at Polynesian attitudes - ones of compassion, fairness and tolerance. Winning is important, but it's not the be all and end all; and the eventual make up of their team - and it's constituent parts - is testament to a society that has way more right than it has wrong in the way it thinks and behaves. There's loads of humour - most of which comes from an on-form Kightley, but I found that a bit weak and just a little too stereotypical (albeit from their perspective rather than the American's). The best bits are probably in the trailers, but it's still just about worth a watch - but the television will be fine.