At first, the team—comprised of Fillmore and the giraffe Lenny Williamson (Stephen Curry), the ostrich Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan, of Bridgerton fame), the Komodo dragon Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll), and the Indian rhinoceros Archie Everhardt (David Harbour, of Thunderbolts*)—doesn't get along with Will, believing that a small goat like him would simply die on the pitch. Of course, they soon realize this isn't the case when Will finally proves his worth during a hard-fought game that propels the team into the playoffs for the first time.
Then come the usual dramatic moments of a sports movie of this kind, and while this reviewer won't reveal anything in this review other than what was shown in the trailer, it won't be difficult to figure out who the team's true antagonist is and what will ultimately happen to Will and Jett.
Directors: Tyree Dillihay, Adam Rosette
Writers: Aaron Buchsbaum, Teddy Riley, Chris Tougas
Stars: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Nick Kroll
At a time when many of the athletes we grew up watching are grappling with their age and contemplating stepping away from the spotlight (most recently, Lindsey Vonn's likely final Olympic bid ended in a horrific crash), a film like GOAT arrives at just the right moment for viewers, both young and old, who admire so many stars and recognize that, at some point, their time will come to an end and a new generation will take over.
For Jett, this is a bitter pill to swallow, especially considering that, despite his athletic feats and the records he set throughout his Thorns career, he has never won a Claw, and the internal struggles he faces when a goat joins his team create a captivating, character-driven drama. His evolution is the highlight of Dillihay's film, which is stunningly animated and consistently vibrant. Perhaps it clings a little too tightly to the hyperkinetic style of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (which was also used in K-Pop Demon Hunters, from the same creative team at Sony Pictures Animation), but the point is, it remains electrifying whether set on a basketball court, in a jungle, a submerged city, the Arctic, or a boiling volcano.
The climax, in particular, features some of the most visually exhilarating action I've seen in a mainstream animated film since Across the Spider-Verse, which might now seem like a Sony Pictures Animation "signature" style, but one that's constantly being reworked to suit different considerations. The roaring ball scenes are exhilarating and emotionally propulsive, always offering something exciting to watch, which is more than welcome in an era of Hollywood animation that still believes the pursuit of "realism" (hello, Pixar) is the way forward.
Let's hope that the eventual Oscar win for K-Pop's Demon Hunters convinces studios to create more visually daring films, because GOAT contains just what kids need to appreciate the art of cinema on the biggest screen possible. The boy sitting next to me at the screening I attended was jumping with excitement as animals of all shapes and sizes performed feats that may not have a basis in reality, but looked amazing as Dillihay's camera stretched and compressed to continually adapt to the animals' movements. These sequences make the GOAT cinematic experience worthwhile, even if the rest is largely forgettable.
While it's understandable that animated films don't reinvent the narrative wheel, Dillihay and Rosette, along with screenwriters Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley, had a golden opportunity to explore something deeper than the superficial "mentor passes the torch to apprentice" story. Unfortunately, such an emotional moment never actually happens, save for one genuinely touching scene where Will tells Jett why he wants to make his late mother proud (voiced by Jennifer Hudson). The rest of the script relies on a barrage of outdated pop culture references (and memes) as jokes that even young children won't understand, or blatantly promotes real products within the games themselves.
That said, the film's core message remains intact, and it won't be hard to be moved by what's on screen, despite GOAT's obvious shortcomings. Unlike Marty Supreme, this film inspires audiences to dream big in meaningful ways that don't involve breaking the law, and it makes you a better person who cares not only about your own personal growth but also about the growth of those around you.
After all, life is a collective experience, even if we face individual challenges. Children will be dazzled by the film's stunning animation, while adults will enjoy its positive message, which could inspire their children to aspire to bigger goals than they currently face.
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