The next goal wins feel like a 90s throwback, but they forgot one crucial element

In films like “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” Waititi excelled at showcasing supporting characters who resembled real human beings (or aliens or vampires, depending on the film). ). Even in something as bombastic as “Thor: Ragnarok,” he facilitated a connection between the audience and alien pals Korg and Miek, who leave a lasting impression amid the craziness on display. But in “Next goal won”, I could only give you the name of one player from the main football team. The dynamic between players is often the highlight of sports films – think of the characters in “Remember the Titans”, “The Mighty Ducks” and even “Any Given Sunday”, which is specifically referenced in this film. In these films, the players are given the opportunity to shine, and although it may seem a bit formulaic and sometimes unrealistic, we accept it because we know the type of film we are watching. Here the players are completely hung out to dry.

If Waititi and his co-writer Iain Morris didn’t bother to invest time and energy into player development, why should the public care about them?

For more on this, check out today’s episode of the /Film Daily podcast:

We also cover “The Marvels” and its exceptionally bad second weekend at the box office, how “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” performed in its first frame, how “Trolls Band Together” did to hold on. during a competition weekend, and more.

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