Back when we were predicting the 2022 Oscars, this film was rumored to be hitting that block, until it got pushed. Now, it wasn’t the only film to get pushed, and some films did end up benefitting from moving, like Killers Of The Flower Moon. However, after seeing next Goal Wins, I’m not sure why it was ever “in contention”. Not that I didn’t like the film, it is just your basic inspirational sports drama.

I caught this on Disney Plus with audio description by Deluxe, with narration by Mary Song. The narration is fine, since this is a grown up Mighty Ducks. A coach (Michael Fassbender), with no other options, is sent to American Samoa to coach their national soccer team. They have never won a game, and actually have never scored a goal. So, they would be happy just with a goal. Of course, the team learns from the coach, but really it’s the coach that learns from his team as to how to be human, and manage his rage. Not only does this feel like the Ducks, but Disney’s short-lived Big Shot was similar, as was 2023’s Champions. Bad coaches need image help.

It is far from being the best thing director Taika Waititi has directed, but it’s far from his worst. Actually, depending on how you rank his stuff, this might be, because he’s so damn consistent. For me, I was actually a fan of Thor Love and Thunder, so this would rank below that.

Not every film needs to win an Oscar, and every year we are bound to get inspirational sports movies. They are really hard to mess up, so Next Goal Wins comes in incredibly average by default. Just don’t expect the best of Taika or Fassbender here. It’s a little above average, thanks to their talents.

Final Grade: B-