Goal! The Dream Begins

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Goal! The Dream Begins

PG

Released May 12, 2006

2h 1m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

81 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Santiago Muñez, a Mexican cook in Los Angeles, gets a chance to follow his dream of playing professional soccer. A talent scout with contacts in the United Kingdom spots him and offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance: If he can find a way to England, he can try out for the Newcastle United team. Gavin Harris, a star player, takes young Santiago under his wing and helps him prove himself to his disbelieving father.

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Critics Consensus

Impressive sports action sequences are the highlight, as the run-of the-mill story invokes every known sports movie cliche.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

The action on the field won't be enough to sate the most soccer-crazed viewers.

Rated: 2/5

Jun 24, 2006

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Trevor Johnston

Time Out

The combination of button-pushing uplift, sundry sweeping helicopter shots and a bombastic score that sounds like it came on a free transfer from a Tony Scott movie proves as resistibly synthetic as the CGI-enhanced heroics on the pitch.

Jun 24, 2006

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John Monaghan

Detroit Free Press

Everything here is beyond predictable.

Rated: 2/4

Jun 9, 2006

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Tom Dawson

The List

Of the actors, it's Alessandro Nivola in the role of a playboy midfielder who provides Goal!'s most entertaining performance. It's a pity then that the world he inhabits in the film is depicted in such cartoonish terms.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 27, 2019

Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

There is a bulky bundle of sports movie cliches to sort through here if you do intend to follow the rise of wizardly soccer winger Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker)...

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 15, 2018

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Director Danny Cannon ("I Still Know What You Did Last Summer") captures every bit of Kuno Becker's star quality although the committee-written script remains slack.

Rated: B-

Apr 19, 2009

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Jerod S

Movies like this should make you want to play soccer when you're done watching them. This one was an uninspired foreigner playing ball in England.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/08/24

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Osmar

I lot of people give it low rating because they think the main part of the movie is football but its more than that. This movies gives hope to those undocumented players in the USA. It shows them that its possible to make it pro. Non Mexicans will do not understand this, but it really is a good movie, not just about soccer but following your dreams.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/31/23

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Herry S

Most original American dont understand to watch this film about English Premier League, This the best option to watch if you knew about all the E.P.L teams, I watch more than couple of times never be bored because more Football scene instead telling the story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/23

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 02 hours: and 01 minute ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/23

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Jose R

This film is a great inspiration towards younger audiences. It hits especially close to home for many second generation immigrants who can relate to Santiago and his struggles of following his dream despite the conflicting dream his father has placed on him. This feel good movie, despite being cliche and a bit predictable, offers a sort of inspirational tone, one similar to what younger kids perceive when they watch their star football player score a last minute goal to secure a championship.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/23

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Liam D

Sure it's cliched and it's Cheesy but the true British nature and respect for the sports make it a fun watch

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/23/21

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Danny Cannon

Director

Kuno Becker

Santiago Muñez

Alessandro Nivola

Gavin Harris

Stephen Dillane

Glen Foy

Anna Friel

Roz Harmison

Marcel Iures

Erik Dornhelm

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Synopsis

Santiago Muñez, a Mexican cook in Los Angeles, gets a chance to follow his dream of playing professional soccer. A talent scout with contacts in the United Kingdom spots him and offers a once-in-a-lifetime chance: If he can find a way to England, he can try out for the Newcastle United team. Gavin Harris, a star player, takes young Santiago under his wing and helps him prove himself to his disbelieving father.

Director: Danny Cannon
Producer: Mike Jefferies, Mark Huffam, Matt Barrelle
Screenwriter: Mike Jefferies, Adrian Butchart, Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Distributor: Buena Vista
Production Co: Lawrence Bender Productions, Touchstone Pictures, Revolution Films, Milkshake Films
Rating: PG (Partying|Language|Sexual Situations|Some Thematic Material)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 12, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.3M
Runtime: 2h 1m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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