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Goal!

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Goal! (2006)

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Reviews Counted:78

Fresh:34

Rotten:44

Average Rating:5.2/10

Consensus: Impressive sports action sequences are the highlight, as the run-of the-mill story invokes every known sports movie cliche.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for some sexual content, language and a brief drug reference.

Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:May 12, 2006 Wide

Box Office: $4,205,160

Synopsis: Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker), an illegal Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles, lives and breathes soccer, but seems destined to live his life as a day laborer. His father, Hernan (Tony Plana), a... Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker), an illegal Mexican immigrant living in Los Angeles, lives and breathes soccer, but seems destined to live his life as a day laborer. His father, Hernan (Tony Plana), a stern hardworking man, discourages Santiago from playing soccer, believing it is only a feckless fantasy. One day, a former British professional, Glen Foy, spots Santiago playing in a pickup game, and promises him a tryout for Newcastle United. With the support of his doting grandmother, Santiago travels to England, and finds himself in a world where "football" is king, and "footballers" are Gods. His path to soccer stardom is tortuous and paved with pitfalls. Santiago must overcome a terrible tryout, a secret asthma condition, and the animosity of some of his teammates. However, with the guidance of Glen, the love of a plucky and beautiful nurse (Anna Friel), and the unexpected support by Newcastle United's playboy star Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola), Santiago finally finds himself in a position to score a pivotal goal and live his dream. GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS contains many of the familiar tropes of the zero-to-hero sports story, but it rises above the clichés of the genre through the quality of the screenplay and the excellence of the acting. Each of the many minor roles is played to humble perfection, and the film artfully juggles dozens of subplots: Santiago's problematic involvement with troubled superstar Gavin Harris, his romance with Roz, his friendship with Glen, and his strained relationship with his father. The film proves to be full of subtle warmth and surprisingly moving. Thrilling matches--and cameos by such soccer luminaries as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane--will certainly appeal to soccer fans, but GOAL!'s charming story will appeal to almost anyone. [More]

Starring: Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel, Marcel Iures

Starring: Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel, Marcel Iures, Sean Pertwee, Alessandro Nivola, Kieran O'Brien, Tony Plana, Miriam Colon, Gary Lewis, Frances Barber

Director: Danny Cannon

Director: Danny Cannon
Story: Mike Jeffries, Adrian Butchart
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Composer: Graeme Revell
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

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Release:

Sep 12, 2006

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Goal! The Dream Begins
  • Like the inspiring heroes in MIRACLE, REMEMBER THE TITANS, and THE ROOKIE, the amazingly gifted Santiago Mu?ez, a young immigrant living in the barrios of Los Angeles, has an impossible dream -- to play soccer for a world class team. Unexpectedly getting a tryout with one of England's premier soccer clubs, Newcastle United, Santiago finds himself totally alone in a world where soccer is a religion and the players are gods. Now he not only has to prove he has the passion, talent, and determination to make it alongside the best in the world, but he has to overcome his own demons and those of others. Filled with memorable characters, great heart, and real-life soccer legends, GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS is a triumphant story about believing in your dreams.
  • Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
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    Reviews for Goal!

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    N/R

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    Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
    04/23/09
    Tom Meek
    Tom Meek
    Boston Phoenix

    Director Danny Cannon ("I Still Know What You Did Last Summer") captures every bit of Kuno Becker's star quality although the committee-written script remains slack.

    Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
    04/19/09
    Cole Smithey
    Cole Smithey
    ColeSmithey.com
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
    01/19/07
    Harvey S. Karten
    Harvey S. Karten
    Compuserve
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
    12/30/06
    Los Angeles Daily News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It is constructed of sports movie clichés but built on an unshakable foundation of earnestness.

    Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
    10/30/06
    Colin Covert
    Colin Covert
    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    ...engaging and fun to watch, thanks mainly to Kuno Becker in the title role (he's such a nice kid, we can't help but root for him).

    Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
    09/13/06
    John J. Puccio
    John J. Puccio
    DVDTown.com

    The action on the field won't be enough to sate the most soccer-crazed viewers.

    Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Marjorie Baumgarten
    Marjorie Baumgarten
    Austin Chronicle

    The combination of button-pushing uplift, sundry sweeping helicopter shots and a bombastic score that sounds like it came on a free transfer from a Tony Scott movie proves as resistibly synthetic as the CGI-enhanced heroics on the pitch.

    Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
    06/24/06
    Trevor Johnston
    Trevor Johnston
    Time Out

    A predictable mishmash of sports underdog cliches with a domestic release timed to capitalize on anticipation for the World Cup. Accordingly, expect plenty of elbow room at the local multiplex.

    Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
    06/12/06
    Todd Jorgenson
    Todd Jorgenson
    Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

    Everything here is beyond predictable.

    Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
    06/09/06
    John Monaghan
    John Monaghan
    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The script is about as solid as a penalty kick with a deflated ball.

    Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
    06/08/06
    Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
    Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
    St. Paul Pioneer Press

    A soccer-themed soap-opera that misses the net as an insipid, if inspirational, underdog tale.

    Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
    05/20/06
    Susan Granger
    Susan Granger
    Modamag.com

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
    05/20/06
    Dallas Morning News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
    05/20/06
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Each obstacle is brought up and then dealt with in such a rushed and perfunctory manner that you wonder they even bothered to introduce them in the first place.

    Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
    05/20/06
    Peter Sobczynski
    Peter Sobczynski
    eFilmCritic.com

    ... loses points for its disjointed script and fumbled field photography.

    Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
    05/19/06
    Thomas Delapa
    Thomas Delapa
    Boulder Weekly

    There isn't one three-dimensional character or convincing line of dialogue, and the plot is simple-minded to the point of imbecility.

    Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
    05/18/06
    Jim Lane
    Jim Lane
    Sacramento News & Review

    Goal! is filled with cringe-inducing scenes we've seen before many, many times.

    Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
    05/16/06
    Richard Roeper
    Richard Roeper
    Ebert & Roeper
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Heck, we even call soccer by another name, christening it football even though foot actually seems to touch ball maybe a dozen times a match, if that.

    Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
    05/15/06
    Brent Simon
    Brent Simon
    FilmStew.com

    While the movie is a thoroughly generic sports movie, there’s no denying that it works as a rousing example of the genre.

    Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
    05/14/06
    Sean McBride
    Sean McBride
    Sean the Movie Guy
     
     
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