If Ted Lasso, Cool Runnings and director Taika Waititi all slept together, Next Goal Wins would be their baby. It’s a great underdog story that you can easily get behind. Taika has made yet another film that the general public will fawn over and it’s just a great crowd-pleaser overall.

The ensemble cast is is the glue of this film. Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, David Fane, Rachel House, and Beulah Koale are the big standouts from said cast and their performances range from grimly hilarious to emotionally charged. I especially loved the dynamic between Fassbender and Kaimana, which allowed for some really touching moments and gave great character development to them both.

The humor, while not for everyone, will work more often than not. Waititi has a specific brand that will turn a corner for the best at some point for everyone. It’s sharp, slapstick-y at times, and always used efficiently.

The pacing is a bit off at times and may be my only issue with this film. There were long stretches throughout the film where I was extremely bored and nodding to sleep. The film indulges itself into its stronger aspects more than it has to, which doesn’t allow for it to progress naturally like it should.

Next Goal Wins is the bounce back film that Taika Waititi needed after Thor: Love and Thunder. It’s a hilarious, crowd-pleasing delight that’ll have you laughing and cheering the entire time. It’s tailor-made for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF ’23.