What does it mean to be the “GOAT”, the greatest of all time? That’s the question at the heart of Sony Pictures Animation’s Goat, an underdog sports comedy for the kiddos that moves with the speed of a fast break up the court. Directed by Tyree Dillihay, the film scores points for the lightning quick editing and animated style that was such a hit for Kpop Demon Hunters and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With a story inspired by NBA All-Star and producer Stephen Curry, the film has plenty of heart even if it lacks the originality to be a true GOAT. Maybe a solid sixth man?
Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin voices Will Harris, a diminutive goat with a dream of playing roarball, a brutal form of basketball played by “bigs”, power beasts such as elephants, rhinos, gorillas, and panthers. But Will is a “small”, and nobody believes he’ll ever make it to the big leagues, even though it’s clear that the kid has got some skills. Will’s favorite player, Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), is considered the greatest of all time, but has never brought her team, the Vineland Thorns, a championship. The people of Vineland have stopped believing it will ever happen. Will, having become a viral sensation for nearly defeating the league’s most arrogant superstar, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), in a pickup game. Recruited onto the Thorns to bolster attendance, Will is laughed at, demeaned, ignored, and humiliated by his teammates including Jett. However, none of them are capable of breaking his spirit. He’ll be the GOAT no matter what it takes to succeed.
Growing up, Curry was frequently told that he was too skinny, too small to make it in the NBA. His heart is all over this film, and he even voices a character, Lenny, the Thorns’ rebounding journeyman giraffe and rapper extraordinaire. It’s unfortunate that the narrative is so familiar, a paint-by-numbers story that even includes a devious warthog team owner (Jenifer Lewis) pulling a scheme that any fan of Major League will recognize.
But what Goat does have going for it, beyond the beautiful visuals and impressive voice acting, is appreciation for the effect a hometown team can have on a community. The anthropomorphic residents of Vineland don’t have much, and many of them are “smalls” who, like Will, have been ignored by the world. What brings them together is a love for the Thorns, and as the team begins to turn things around, so does Vineland. The message is a good one for the target audience to take to heart. Any player can work hard and become great, but it takes a team to truly be a champion.
Goat opens in theaters on February 13 from Sony Pictures.
