by Jake Hjort, Contributing Writer
Following the disappointing release of Thor: Love and Thunder, I was very curious to see what Taika Waititi’s next project would be. Although much of the public discourse around Waititi seems to be overwhelmingly negative the past few years, he remains one of my favorite filmmakers working today. Jojo Rabbit is one of my favorite films of all time, several of his others are in my top 100, and he’s the produced some outstanding television shows, such as Our Flag Means Death, What We Do in the Shadows,and Reservation Dogs. One mediocre Thor movie does not erase his impressive filmography, so I was eager to see if the spark was still there in his newest film.
So, let’s get right to the question at hand: is Next Goal Wins a return to form for Waititi? Well, yes and no. It doesn’t come close to the highs that he has achieved in his earlier work, but it’s also far from the lows of Love and Thunder, and there are some clear signs the genius is still there. It isn’t his funniest or most heartfelt film, but the humor and heart are both present, as is his signature sense of charm. Set back in the South Pacific, clearly a place of comfort for Waititi, this was a passion project close to his heart, and I found myself with a grin on my face through most of the runtime.
Next Goal Wins tells the story of the American Samoan national football team, one of the worst soccer teams in the history of the sport. 10 years after a historic 31-0 defeat, Dutch football coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender), is brought in to try to bring some glory to American Samoa and try to help them get their first win in team history. Facing demons of his own, Rongen is as much in need of a fresh start as his new team, and throughout the course of the film both are able to learn from each other to grow and move past their trauma.
Fassbender is perfectly fine in the lead role, although I did find his characterization of Rongen to be inconsistent. I’m not sure if the issue lies more in the writing or the performance, but it often felt like the character’s mood and behavior would change rapidly and inauthentically, and that his character arc and development was strangely paced. However, although Fassbender is imperfect, the real strength of the film is the performances of the supporting cast. The ensemble is full of great comedic actors and frequent Waititi collaborators, including Will Arnett, Elisabeth Moss, Rhys Darby, and Rachel House. The biggest standout for me is Oscar Kightley as team president, Tavita, a character who perfectly embodies the joyous spirit and resilience of the American Samoan people. Kightley doesn’t have many other credits to his name, but he has such a delightful sense of charisma as Tavita, and I look forward to seeing him in more films in the future, be they further collaborations with Waititi or not.
Another standout performance and character in the film is that of Kaimana as Jaiyah Saelua, the team’s captain and standout defender. Both the character and the actor portraying her are fa‘afafine, a nonbinary gender identity that has long been a part of Samoan culture. Aside from a bit of clunky dialogue during a heated dispute with Rongen, the character is written very well, and Kaimana gives a great performance. I’m certain that there’s going to be a lot of toxic discourse about Jaiyah in the worst parts of the internet, but for now, I want to recognize her for what she is: a beautiful character that I’m sure will resonate with a lot of people.
One of the big criticisms of Waititi’s recent films, particularly his two entries into the Thor franchise, is that he struggles to allow dramatic moments breath without feeling the need to undercut them with a joke. For the most part, I don’t think that this was a problem with Next Goal Wins. Although Waititi certainly relies on comedy to break through tension, something that is noticeable across all of his different works, he does a better job here of allowing his characters to spend some time feeling the emotions of sadness, despair, and grief. Next Goal Wins is undoubtedly a comedy first and foremost, but it isn’t afraid of embracing it’s cast of outcast characters and the struggles that they have faced to get to where they are.
Next Goal Wins may not rise to the level of Waititi’s best, but it’s a clear step in the right direction after a big stumble. Based on a true story, it’s a classic sports underdog tale that the director and cast are clearly passionate about and having a ton of fun making. The Samoan scenery is beautiful to look at, and the American Samoan people’s eternally positive outlook on life is infectious. This may not be enough for those displeased with Waititi’s style, but for lovers of his work like me it’s certainly worth a watch.
Rating: Liked it
Next Goal Wins is currently playing in theaters
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