DVD Review: Goal!: The Dream Begins

By Jeff Swindoll Sep 20, 2006, 15:41 GMT

Like millions of kids around the world, Santiago harbors the dream of being a professional footballer. However, living in the Barrios section of Los Angeles, he thinks it is only that--a dream. Until, one day an extraordinary turn of events has him trying out for Premiership club Newcastle United. ...more

Goal! is the first in a trilogy centered on football (that’s soccer to us yanks).  I’ll admit that my favorite sport is DVD watching (look at those remote muscles), but I really liked this tale of rags to riches soccer player.

Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) has always been a poor immigrant, but he’s always had a skill with the soccer ball.  Truth be told he nearly didn’t make it across the border since he dropped his soccer ball and nearly got caught by the Border Patrol as he stood perplexed trying to decide whether to go back and get it.  Santi plays for a Los Angeles team and is the star of the squad.

He’s playing a match in the park when Englishman Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) spots Santi on the field and sees his potential to be an ace player.  Glen is just visiting the US to see his daughter and only used to be a soccer scout for Newcastle United.  He calls agent Barry Rankin (Sean Pertwee – looking more and more like dear ole Dad) and Barry promises to show up at Santi’s Saturday game to check the lad’s skills out.  Saturday comes and Barry doesn’t show.  Glen still thinks that Santi is a find, so he does makes a call to United’s owner (3:30 am UK time) Mr. Dornhelm (Marcel Iures). 

Dornhelm promises to give Santi a look see if Glen will hang up and let him go back to sleep, as long as Santi can make it to England.  So now it’s up to Santi to raise the money that he needs to buy his plane ticket.  His father Hernan (Tony Plana) doesn’t believe in Santi’s dream and uses the money to buy a new truck for his landscaping business.  Santi is heartbroken, but his grandmother Mercedes (Miriam Colon) gets him the ticket and he’s off to the UK.  He gets there just as the team has signed a new multi-million dollar player in the form of Gavin Harris (Alessandro Nivola). 

Dornhelm gives Santi his tryout in the rain and muck and he blows it.  Glen feels that Santi is a diamond in the rough and convinces Dornhelm to give him a month to make good (other players got 6 months).  Santi even finds a love interest in team nurse Roz (Anna Friel).  However, a problem arises when he doesn’t tell the team about his asthma and tries to hide it. 

Give Santiago a chance

One of his rivals (Kieran O’Brien) finds out about it and smashes his inhaler so that Santi again performs badly.  Again he’s kicked off the team and about to head for the states when fate lands Gavin Harris in his lap, they become fast friends, and Gavin gets him back on the team – into the star players circle.  However, things at the top are not exactly all that they’re cracked up to be. 

I’m not a soccer fan, but I truly enjoyed the tales of this rags to riches story.  I don’t think that you have to be a soccer fan to appreciate this film.  However, every little bit of soccer fandom will probably heighten your enjoyment.  There’s even a cameo by David Beckham.  It’s also the tale of a fish out of water as barrio boy Santiago goes to jolly ole England to make it as a soccer star. 

The casting is excellent and Kuno Becker shines in the title role.  Alessandro Nivola, Stephen Dillane, Marcel Iures, and Anna Friel are also excellent.  Even the minor roles have their moments to shine.  Of course, my enjoyment also may have come from the whole British aspect to the story.  Not that there were not some annoyances with the show since major portions of the Spanish dialogue go without English subtitles (though you are aware of what the feelings behind the words are). 

I’m pretty sure that this was not a big hit in the States, but am hopeful that it was a hit elsewhere in the world and that the plans for the series go through.  Goal! is the first part of a proposed trilogy of the soccer field adventures of Santiago Munez.  Even though I’m not a soccer fan, I do look forward to hopefully seeing the second and third parts of the trilogy. 

Goal! is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary from director Danny Cannon and writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.  Next is the 6 minute “The Beautiful Game” featurette. 

Santiago in action

It has interviews with writer/producer Mike Jeffries, co-producer Danny Stepper, associate producer Allen Hopkins, Kuno Becker, Allesandro Nivola, director Danny Cannon, Stephen Dillane, the Chairman of Newcastle United Freddy Shepherd, the manager of Newcastle United Matt Barrelle, Anna Friel, football choreographer Andy Ansah, and actress Cassandra Bell. 

Next is the 10 minute “Behind the Pitch” that features the interviewees above but adds Kieran O’Brien to the mix.  There’s also a 4 minute “Playground Superstar” music video by Happy Mondays.  Finally, there is a 3 minute soccer highlight reel called “Golden Moments from the FIFA Cup.” 

I never watch soccer, but I did like the movie.  The rags to riches sports story has been done before, but the British setting appealed to me.  I ended up greatly enjoying the movie, but it’s not going to make me start tuning into soccer games.  I hope that the quality is maintained throughout the trilogy and I look forward to viewing them. 

Goal!: The Dream Begins is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK. Visit the DVD database for more information.