Goal! The Dream Begins

The subtitle of Danny Cannon's formulaic sports movie—about a poor kid who triumphs in the world of professional athletics—is The Dream Begins, but it feels like it will never end (it takes nearly two hours to stuff every cliché of the genre into a single script). The sport is soccer, and the protagonist is Santiago Munez (amiably played by Kuno Becker), who slipped across the California border from Mexico 10 years earlier and now works with his hardnosed father in landscaping. Noticed by a British soccer scout who promises him a tryout, Santiago makes his way to the U.K., where he must overcome all sorts of obstacles to gain a slot on the squad, including unfamiliarity with rainy fields and the brutal style of play, initial hostility from some of the players, and an inclination to hog the ball rather than pass it. Santiago is also handicapped by his asthma (which he keeps a secret), sidetracked by the seductions of the high life, and suffers a family tragedy (inserted into the plot just where you'd expect—right before the championship game). By the time Goal! reaches the final whistle, you'll feel as battered by the banal storyline as the soccer players are by nasty hits on the field. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary (by director Danny Cannon, and co-writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais), a “Behind the Pitch” segment on the incorporation of real Premiership matches in soccer scenes (11 min.), “The Beautiful Game” featurette on soccer's worldwide impact (7 min.), “Golden Moments of the FIFA World Cup” (4 min.), the Happy Holidays music video “Playground Superstar,” and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so sports flick.] (F. Swietek)