By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"GOAT" BRINGS HEART, HUMOR, HOOPS, AND STAR POWER TO THE BIG SCREEN
With Friday the 13th looming, I half-expected to be reviewing a new, blood-soaked horror flick, but none were on my schedule this week.
Instead, audiences get something far more family-friendly: the animated sports comedy
"Goat," from directors
Tyree Dillihay (TV's "Weather Hunters") and
Adam Rosette ("The Wild Robot"). And I must say, it's a fun and welcome change of pace.
Produced by
NBA superstar Stephen Curry--who also lends his voice alongside his wife
Ayesha--"Goat" is chockfull of stellar talent. It includes Caleb McLaughlin, Nick Kroll, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson, Jenifer Lewis, Aaron Pierre, and even Jelly Roll who fittingly plays a grizzly bear.
At the center of the story is Will Harris, (McLaughlin, TV's "Stranger Things"). He's an ambitious goat who is chasing greatness and is determined to prove he belongs among the elite athletes in the fast-paced professional world of Roarball. Will's idol is Jett Filmore. She's a famous all-star black panther (Gabrielle Union, "Forbidden Fruits") on the Thorn's team. Will hopes to play alongside her one day.
Along the way, Will faces self-doubt, fierce competition, and the pressure to live up to expectations. Will also learns that true greatness comes not just from talent, but from resilience and teamwork.
Despite his best laid plans, fate isn't kind to Will. The poor guy can't even afford to pay his rent.
However, Will gets a big break when Mane Attraction, a flashy Andalusian horse (Aaron Pierre, TV's "The Morning Show"), rolls into town daring anyone bold enough to challenge him on the court.
That would be Will.
He steps up and proves he's got game. Although Will ultimately loses, their electrifying showdown goes viral, catching the attention of Thorn's team owner Florence (Jenifer Lewis, TV's "The Upshaws"), who decides to give the young goat a shot at the big leagues. It's a dream come true for Will.
Over time, he grows into a true leader, earning the respect of his teammates, his coach (Patton Oswalt, "The Dink"), and even a few rivals along the way.
Visually, "Goat" is gorgeous. It bursts with vibrant colors, imaginative arenas, and sweeping animated landscapes that make the Roarball world feel alive and electric. Kids will especially connect with the, expressive animal characters whose over-the-top personalities leap off the screen and deliver laugh-out- loud moments particularly from Lenny Williamson, the giraffe Roarball player voiced by
Steph Curry. In some ways "Goat" mirrors Curry's own personal journey from scrappy underdog to NBA superstar.
In the end, "Goat," from screenwriters
Aaron Buchsbaum, and Teddy Riley (TV's "Fairfax"), is a familiar, classic, playful sports story. It proves that sometimes the biggest wins come from the most unexpected players.
It's also about believing in yourself, embracing what makes you different and chasing your dreams no matter what the odds. That's a great message for kids and definitely one worth cheering for.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Go Ahead And Watch This Trailer For
"GOAT"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
