In 2001, the American Samoa football team was plunged into misery after their worst international defeat in history, a 31-0 loss to Australia. A few years later, combative Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen whipped them all into shape to avoid global humiliation by scoring just one goal. One might say, a touching story for the screen.
And it was. Documentary film from 2014. Next goal wins, which showed Rongen and his team trying to qualify for this year’s World Cup, was a sweet and smart film. Unfortunately, Next goal winsfeature film directed by Jojo Rabbit“Taika Waititi” is a boring and predictable outsider comedy that indulges every sweet impulse but never quite understands who the irascible Rongen is or why the team has improved under his leadership.
Michael Fassbender, an actor not famous for his comedic talents (although he certainly has them – see). Murderer) is Rongen, a semi-alcoholic blonde barbie who is reluctantly sent to a Polynesian paradise. He barks rudely at the island’s inhabitants (shamefully submissive) and finds a number of things intolerable and miserable – although he always knows he’ll regret it pretty soon.
The script and characterization borrow heavily from Tom Hanks’ low-key trainer Jimmy Dugan. Own competition (1992), except that neither Fassbender nor the film exert any charm here that can convince.
It’s not Fassbender’s fault, mind you. He simply has nothing to do. He’s quite angry and it’s funny to see his strong jaw turn into resignation and sometimes joy. But this is all too harsh. At one point he shouts at the players and sends a cheerful neighbor boy to bring him whiskey from the supermarket; The next moment he becomes a real white savior, happily eating coconut fish.
How did this transformation happen? Who knows? It’s clear that this may have something to do with coming to terms with the past (Elisabeth Moss appears occasionally as his ex-wife, and tragedy is revealed towards the end), but his actual journey from misanthrope to mentor is conspicuously absent.
There is a similarly simple approach for the team. The film funnily introduces us to everyone involved (there’s a touch of old school coming-of-age comedy here), especially Jaya (played by non-binary actress Kaymana), the first transgender footballer to play in a World Cup match and is the player who truly helps change the point Rongen’s view. Can the game be great even if you don’t win?
But the jokes mostly concern transgressive, offensive national stereotypes (for example, the landlord is available 24 hours a day, not 24 hours a day: “seven days a week,” his colleague chuckles), and the process for this is not detailed enough. . Anything but longing for the original documentation. Terrible offside.
Source: I News
I am Mario Pickle and I work in the news website industry as an author. I have been with 24 News Reporters for over 3 years, where I specialize in entertainment-related topics such as books, films, and other media. My background is in film studies and journalism, giving me the knowledge to write engaging pieces that appeal to a wide variety of readers.