Directed by Tyree Dillihay, “GOAT” tells the story of a goat who hopes to become the greatest of all time at a basketball-inspired sport called roarball. Unfortunately, the movie isn’t as ambitious as its protagonist. Fresh off the heels of the impressively bold “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” and “KPop Demon Hunters,” “GOAT” is a disappointingly safe release for Sony Pictures Animation, though it certainly has heart.
“GOAT” follows the anthropomorphic goat Will Harris, voiced by “Stranger Things” star Caleb McLaughlin, after the Vineland Thorns sign him when a video of him playing against and humiliating a star roarball player goes viral. The Thorns’ best player is Will’s idol, black panther Jett Fillmore, who has yet to win a championship despite being the league’s all-time leading scorer. When Jett learns that the greedy owner of the Thorns signed Will, she is furious at the apparent publicity stunt, deriding Will’s short stature. What follows is a charming but predictable underdog story.
Where the movie shines is the spectacular animation, with Sony Pictures Animation using the 2D/3D hybrid style it pioneered with its “Spider-Verse” films to great effect. The fast-paced and energetic roarball games are a joy to watch, and the movie as a whole is colorful and pleasing to the eye. Additionally, the voice acting is excellent, especially Gabrielle Union’s performance as Jett. NBA star Steph Curry, who also serves as a co-producer, holds his own as Lenny, a giraffe and member of the Thorns.
However, the movie is lackluster in the story department. Overall, the plot has few surprises and takes no risks, content to be nothing more than a cookie-cutter sports film. The idea of an aging legend learning to pass the mantle to a young underdog isn’t even unique to animated films: Pixar’s “Cars 3” does the same, except much more effectively, since it gets the viewer to root for the stubborn veteran and gives the underdog an arc of their own. In “GOAT,” on the other hand, Jett is clearly in the wrong, and Will’s character lacks development. The latter issue is especially significant, given that Will is the main character. Will doesn’t even have to learn how to use his height to his advantage over time — instead, he’s an excellent player from the get-go.
It’s true that “GOAT” is undeniably made with passion, and it absolutely is not a bland cash grab like “Smurfs: The Lost Village” and “The Emoji Movie.” A particularly tender scene is when Will takes Jett to a local diner so that she can meet some die-hard fans, showing her that she still has support despite her failure to win a championship. But “GOAT” needs more than charm and impressive animation to be called anything more than decent. It’s worth a watch when it hits Netflix, but it’s not enough of a slam dunk to be worth seeing in theaters.
Eshan Singh can be reached at [email protected].
