The film improves noticeably toward the end, though before that point *Next Goal Wins* doesn’t fare well. I generally enjoy Taika Waititi’s humor and find it entertaining, but here the comedy feels flat and frustratingly unfunny. I'm familiar with the true story behind this movie because of my interest in soccer, yet it seems to occupy an awkward space between appealing to sports enthusiasts and general audiences... without fully satisfying either; that was certainly my impression, anyway. It doesn’t quite deliver enough laughs or enough sporting action. Everything leading up to the scene featuring a smiley face on the whiteboard felt pretty dull – I wasn't engaged by what I was watching, it was rather uncomfortable. Much of the humor before that point seemed contrived; in fact, the only parts that elicited any amusement from me were the jokes about white people. Michael Fassbender isn’t particularly compelling either, until that moment. Fortunately, the ending is uplifting and provides a satisfying resolution, which earns an additional half-point for my rating. As I mentioned, I found Fassbender to be just okay; Liam Neeson might have been a more suitable choice, especially considering there's a reference to a previous role of the Northern Irishman’s. Beyond the lead actor, the other cast members perform adequately – notably Oscar Kightley, Kaimana and David Fane. There’s a sense that the filmmakers were trying to follow in the footsteps of *Ted Lasso*. I don't care for that television show, but it does a better job... assuming my comparison is accurate. *Bend It Like Beckham* also comes to mind, though that might be me stretching things a bit.

Source on TMDB