Michael Fassbender plays a boozy football coach with a seemingly impossible task ahead of him in Taika Waititi's new comedy Next Goal Wins. The movie is a dramatised take on the acclaimed documentary of the same name and stars Fassbender as real-life football coach Thomas Rongen.
Washed up and at the end of his rope, Rongen is dispatched to Samoa where he's put in charge of the American Samoa national football team, possibly the worst football squad in the world. Initially frustrated at the team's incompetence, Rongen soon softens and starts to bond with the players as he aims to qualify them for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
This being a Taika Waititi film, fans will know what to expect: broad comedy, pratfalls, verbal gags and an underlying air of compassion and empathy. Backing Oscar nominee Fassbender is an all-star supporting cast including Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss and Rhys Darby.
Next Goal Wins served as our 10th Secret Screening, so did it hit the back of the net as far as the audience was concerned? We've rounded up a few of the responses.
Really enjoyed this one, plenty of laughs and drama to keep me entertained from start to finish. Looking forward to going to see it again when it gets its full release.
— Blazing Minds (@BlazingMinds) December 4, 2023
Loved it was such a great film I knew nothing about before I saw it , a very funny touching movie and great acting , it also had a fantastic @m_giacchino score too , really entertaining evening and free drink , popcorn and sweets as well who could not have a great night 😀😀
— Nigel Craft (@CraftyNigel) December 4, 2023
A brilliant movie, didn't expect it at all. Loved the passion, the belief in the team and culture. Love wins!!!
— Nita B Khatri (@scorpionrush) December 4, 2023
A lovely charming Sports comedy laced with Taika Waititi’s distinctive humour. Nice to see the director going back to his roots with a small scale culture clash comedy about real people. Michael Fassbender & Kaimana were excellent & did I hear Katelyn Dever?
— The Fourth Dimension (@Mike_J_Lord) December 4, 2023
I’m SHOCKED… #NextGoalWins is great! Its heartfelt with so many laugh out loud moments, making it nothing but a JOY. Waititi is good and Fassbender is great but its the passion of American Samoa that really makes this stand out. One of the best surprises this year! Loved it!🇦🇸⚽️ pic.twitter.com/R62HtP87mX
— George Clark 🇵🇸 (@GeorgeAlexClark) December 4, 2023
Missed the screening? Next Goal Wins is released at Cineworld on December 26th. Click the link below to book your tickets.
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