'Next Goal Wins' Review: Feel-Good True Story Done Right

Michael Fassbender stars in Taiki Waititi's adaptation of a documentary, inspired by a true story, now streaming on Disney Plus.

Now Streaming: Arriving home from a visit to a doctor, I was ready for something to lift my spirits. Lo and behold, I turned on my television, opened up Disney Plus, and there was my (temporary) cinematic salvation. 

Without anything more than a passing interest in soccer (or football), I was not tempted by Taiki Waititi's film when it opened in movie theaters this past November and, judging by its tepid box office receipts, not many in the general public were, either. Yet those who did see it were far more positive than the critical reaction, which is always noteworthy. 

Now that it's popped up on Disney Plus, many more people will have an opportunity to decide for themselves. The film definitely follows a familiar template: an inspiring true (sports) story becomes an inspiring documentary that becomes an inspiring live-action film. 

The script is credited to Taiki Waititi and Iain Morris, and introduces the fiery Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) as he's being fired from his job as coach of the Under-20 United States men's national team. At the same time, he's offered a position as coach of the American Samoan team, then known widely as the worst soccer team in the world. 

Arriving in American Samoa just four weeks before its World Cup-qualifying match against the neighboring Tonga, everyone knows that Rongen faces an impossible task. Tavita (Oscar Kightley), the head of the local soccer association and, as such, his direct supervisor, tells Thomas that he doesn't expect (or hope for) anything more than the team scoring a goal, a single goal. 

Even that seems like an impossible task, which is reinforced for Thomas as he watches the team practice. His own cantankerous personality only makes things worse, as he yells at players who have no idea how to play, beyond running around and kicking the ball. 

Thomas also must figure out how to treat Jaiya (Kaimana), a faʻafafine member of the team who is warmly accepted by everyone else. He's never dealt with anyone transgender before, so it's a learning process, one that he undertakes only begrudgingly. 

Once Thomas learns to accept Jaiya as a person, he realizes that she is as perceptive as he is about the strengths and weaknesses of the team as a whole, and is badly missing players who retired from the team only because they, too, were not properly valued. Thus begins a recruitment tour by Thomas and Jaiya, but the clock is ticking on the team's upcoming match. 

As expected, of course, obstacles are set up in the movie with the expectation that they will be overcome, and so the modicum of suspense that accrues is only due to unfamiliarity with the true story. (The movie is from Searchlight Pictures and is on Disney Plus, so we can assume the best.) 

What makes the film worth watching is its authenticity in depicting life in American Samoa, its agreeable and likable characters -- Fassbender as Thomas is the biggest grouch, and we just know he has to come around sometime, eventually, probably -- and its enduringly cheerful spirit. It's like watching a recording of a sports match that you've seen before; you know how it's going to end, but you can't resist watching it again because it makes you feel good to watch it. 

Indeed, that's the spirit of Next Goal Wins. Even if you know (or strongly suspect) what's going to happen, the joy and satisfaction comes from how the film has been prepared and served. Let's just say: it's a good treat, all the way through the final, post-credits scene. [Disney Plus]