Movie Review - Goat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggZA2oi8S5s

Length: 1hr 40 minutes

Director: Tyree Dillihay

Starring: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Stephen Curry, David Harbour, Patton Oswalt

Animation Studio: Sony Pictures Animation

Genre: Animation, Family, Sports

Where to Watch: In theaters now

Have you ever dreamed big? I mean, really dreamed big. We all had them. I'm sure at one point, everyone wanted to be an astronaut. Then, we got older and realized being an astronaut is actually tough and not many qualify. Still, remember what it was like to dream big? Dreams are big. They are scary. They are intimidating. Life has a means of finding dreams to work with, and sometimes there is that one chance that arrives. Best not blow it. 

This is the story of Goat. From the studio that made K-Pop Demon Hunters and Spider-Verse comes a tale of sports, dreams, and the challenge that comes with it. Goat takes a familiar formula and refreshes it with great characters, a wonderful world, solid humor, and a story that wears its heart on its sleeve. Goat is the best animated basketball movie since Space Jam. 

It's Time to Slam

Goat is based on a book, Funky Dunks, by Chris Tougas. The world centers around Roarball. Roarball is everything. It's where the bigs and giants compete for bragging rights and success. The winners make history, and the losers are at the bottom of the food chain. This take on basketball features courts built from the elements, such as lava and ice. 

As a kid, Will (Caleb McLaughlin) gets to see his hero on the Vineyard Thorns, Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union). Going to the game is a treat for Will. His hard-working mom accompanies him and encourages him to pursue his dreams. From there, Will has a dream: to make it into Roarball and be a star Roarball player. It's a daunting dream. No one his size, or species, has ever made it into Roarball, but that isn't going to stop him. 

And Welcome to the Jam

Goat comes from Sony Animation Studio, who are still basking in the glow from the success of K-Pop Demon Hunters. The studio has had a tenacity for great animation and strong storytelling, as evidenced by Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. They are also known for the much-maligned Emoji Movie, but they have come a long way since then to become one of the leaders in animation. 

Goat paints a colorful world that feels more personal than grand. Here, it's about the everyday life of every animal, going about their business and trying to make it. There are diners, apartments, and animals attending Roarball games. It feels more grounded and closer to reality than something fantastical. Still, this is a world filled with anthropomorphic creatures, and there is a wildly fun imagination going on here. 

Above the Rim

The designs are also remarkable. Birds, lizards, cats, and other species are highlighted. In an interesting choice, sometimes the creatures go on all fours to run or make a statement, something that was seen as a dark concern in Zootopia. It highlights the more wild instincts of the characters and emotions. By the way, the two movies are not related in any way, but the anthropomorphic similarities this close to their releases are hard to ignore.

Visually, Goat has quite an identity. It's kinetic, energetic, and imaginative. The depiction of Roarball is exciting as well, with shifting courts and elemental risks that impede the players. However, a strong sports story is nothing if it doesn't have a good, memorable story attached to it. While the story is all-too familiar, it introduced some surprising new elements that make this a refreshing take on the sports formula. 

Put your heart into it

Most sports movies follow the same structure. A person has a dream. A person is discouraged from dreaming. A person experiences something that puts them within range of the dream. Then, they work for the dream. Finally, at the end, they achieve the dream. Goat stays true to this but mixes things up to become its very own kind of movie. 

For starters, Goat wears its heart on its sleeve. From the very first frame, this isn't about simply trying to be the best at Roarball but to change the entire game. This is grounded at the core by Will’s mother, and the fact that she takes him to his first Roarball game. From that moment, Will, knowing fully well he is too small to be in Roarball, desires to pursue the game anyway.

An interesting connection

Will is an enjoyable character to see during this rise. He's a regular small goat with a big heart and a strong connection to his roots. He represents the audience and their ambitions in a positive way. He isn't invincible. He suffers defeat and disappointment. Through it, he perseveres. This is balanced out by Jett Fillmore, a black panther. She's a star player who has a status to maintain and challenges due to her age. While she initially resents Will, the two develop an interesting friendship that challenges and builds.

When the action hits, it's remarkably kinetic and energetic. The court lights up with excitement and humor as Will works with a ragtag team of players to play and win. It's tremendously exciting and gripping, and throughout it, the humor and the heart are shown onscreen. The animation of the Roarball games is something I haven't seen in animated movies recently.

The games are accompanied by an eclectic cast of characters that include an ostrich, a rhino, a giraffe, and a quirky komodo dragon. 3-point master NBA player Stephen Curry lends his voice to Lenny the giraffe, who plays hard and raps harder. Patton Osswalt is a proboscis monkey who is the coach of the team. It's a solid cast that works incredibly well.

Timeout

Goat does have a few fouls here and there, primarily the story structure. The rest of the movie runs the traditional formula, both to its support and detriment. We know what to expect and what will happen, as we have seen in so many other sports movies before it. I feel there was more to say and do with this particular world and story. Perhaps there could have been more time in it with one of the games that are shown.

At the same time, the story execution is done well. I've mentioned it before, but it is impossible to ignore the big heart this movie has from the first moments to the final scene. Most sports movies focus on the dream, especially historical sports movies that telegraph what will happen. Here, the emphasis on the heart of the story makes this one both entertaining and endearing.

The Goat

Goat is the best animated basketball movie since Space Jam. It's a more personal story of accomplishing dreams as well as a love letter to the game of basketball. Its animation is top-notch, and the characters are memorable. Goat will undoubtedly get compared to Space Jam and the Zootopia movies, but Goat is a solidly done sports movie that slam dunks.

GOAT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED