Next Goal Wins Review: Waititi’s Sports Dramedy Has Little Character Development

Taika Waititi, known for his ability to incorporate humor in even the most upsetting scenarios, returned to the Toronto International Film Festival this September to premiere his new feature. His latest is centered around the American Samoa national football team after their infamous 31-0 defeat in the 2002 World Cup qualifying match. That fact alone has generated some laughs across the soccer community, and Waititi has taken it one step further. According to the director, Next Goal Wins contains some embellishments, but its biggest mishap is missing the mark on jokes and limiting the character development for almost every person in the film. Sure, the movie includes the uplifting Cinderella story we’d all expect, but it fails its characters and culture in the process.