By Glenn Kay, For the Sun
Rating: 3 out of 4
Running Time: 100 minutes
This feature film from Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation is currently playing at theaters.
Over the years, there have been some fantastic, exciting, dramatic and inspirational sports films. My personal favorites would include Rocky, Slap Shot, The Bad News Bears, Raging Bull, Field of Dreams, and Creed (and there are many, many more great pictures). But finding an equally powerful animated family-friendly feature on the same subject is a much trickier task. There certainly have been a few hits, like the live-action/animated Space Jam series, as well as a couple of solid ones that include the likes of Early Man and Inside Out 2. Yet it’s hard to think of a classic kid’s animated sports story.
Goat is a new animated feature attempting to make a lasting impression on viewers. The film has been something of a surprise hit, exceeding expectations and currently sitting at the top of the box office
This effort is visually unique and fast-paced as it tells a story set in an anthropomorphic world of animals. While most of the tale will be overly familiar to anyone who has ever seen a sports picture, it is a zippy, fun ride that will entertain most families with, well, older children (I will get into why soon).
Young goat Will Harris (Caleb McLaughin) has always been desperate to join the professional “Roarball” league, despite others telling him he is too small and doesn’t have the natural talent for athletics. Harris is also a dedicated fan of his hometown team, the Vineland Thorns, who have never won a title and are in the middle of a major slump. Star player/black panther Jet Filmore (Gabrielle Union) is extraordinarily talented, but selfish with the ball, and her teammates, ostrich Olivia Burke (Nicola Coughlan), rhino Archie Everhardt (David Harbour), Komodo dragon Modo Olachenko (Nick Kroll) and giraffe Lenny Williamson (Stephen Curry) have their own issues.
When Harris goes to a local court and meets arrogant league MVP/Lava Coast Magma team member Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), he takes part in a contest and fares slightly better than expected. Looking for positive press, Thorns owner and warthog Florence ‘Flo’ Everson (Jenifer Lewis) signs Harris to the team. The protagonist must prove to his less-than-enthused teammates that he deserves to play.
The animation style on display is impressive and hyperkinetic, with the camera constantly moving around and following leaping players on the court in different environments. The hero’s hometown has a green and jungle-like appearance, but as you might have imagined, other teams incorporate volcanoes, ice and other elements. The sight gags and amusing comments come at viewers so rapidly that it can be difficult to keep up with it all, but there are several moments that do provide chuckles for youths and adults.
Additionally, the movie does a nice job of presenting the positives of teamwork. This includes understanding everyone’s strengths and using them properly in order to eke out victories for the group. And of course, the message about rising above the biases of others is admirable.
Generally speaking, this is a fun picture. The only caveat or warning this reviewer would make is that it isn’t really for the very young. It is hyperactive with fast cuts and montages running throughout. And because this is a sports movie, social media and the sports entertainment industry play a major part in the story. Characters use cell phones to record, post and taunt each other throughout the picture. There is also a great deal of product placement, including a prominently featured clothing brand.
While all of this is accurate to today’s world, anyone hoping to protect their little ones from asking for their own cell phones or watching disparaging videos about others might want to wait a few years before introducing their kids to the film.
Still, if you’re an older child who can handle the fast-cutting and social media elements of the story, you should have a good time with the film. It does look impressive and features plenty of fun sight gags and amusing comments, as well as some entertaining voice-performances.
Goat may not be a slam dunk, but as far as animated sports films go, it ranks alongside Early Man and Inside Out 2 as a solid and entertaining outing.
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