This is a made for TV movie. This at first should be understood. It actually has a lot of heart and it's not morally superior or patronising.
Goal is a story about soccer/football. Tension between father and son as the Munez family, illegal Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles, California, struggle to make ends meet.
Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) his real passion is soccer. His dad thinks it's a meaningless hobby, trivial. Munez is talented.
He puts savings away for a dream of his own. Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) is at a game to support the kid of his daughter, he notices Munez - who dazzles him. Glen used to be a player, then a big time scout, now retired from football.
"You dare to dream, you get screwed."
It's a simple story with two fascinating characters - the agent who is dazzled by the kid's talent, and the boy whose distance from his dream is staggering, yet he never gives up hope - which inspires Glen to keep trying to help him.
The boy's faith, character, determination and raw talent impress everyone he meets. If he can get to England, Glen convinced Newcastle United to give him a tryout. He has to save up for the trip. But everyone knows where he hides his savings. His dad steals his money and spends it on a new truck.
Munez is a passionate and charismatic character – sometimes over the top as emotional drama, but his friendship with Glen and his faith in people is engaging.
His emotions ride the rollercoaster of the plot and bring the viewer along with him. The angst is toxic and eloquent. Juxtaposed with the attitudes of some of the now famous players – those who have achieved the grand dream.
Munez's situation now seems dire, with no money for the trip, but his Granny gets him the money to go to England. He leaves without saying goodbye to his father, shows up in England and Glen takes him in.
England is another world to him.
"He’s never seen mud, before."
He screws up his tryout but he’s never played in a wet environment.
He still manages to show a little magic and Glen pushes on his behalf.
There are enough antagonistic forces in the story to test his mettle.
Munez has his dreams ripped from him repeatedly.
This is a story about hope in the face of adversity. Less about football than it is about a man’s character.
And he meets a girl – a nurse. She is cute and clever, perhaps brighter than him. She’s a football fan mainly because she’s a Munez fan. She’s not a groupie.
Glen is a cool, interesting, powerful character.
Munez has a lot to learn, through the course of the film, change is applied to him and his friends. He becomes a more complete and happy person by the end of the film. It’s not epic or grand, but a subtle and enjoyable little sports film.
3 stars
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