Rating: PG13
Genre:
Drama
Theatrical Release: 09/30/2005(UK),
Release Date: 11/21/2006
SubTitles: French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French/Espanol
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 118 Minutes
Flags: Adult Language, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: Touchstone / Disney
One young man's dream takes him on a remarkable journey in this
sports-themed
drama.
Santiago Munez (
Kuno Becker) was born in Mexico, and came to California with his family when he was just a boy. One of the few things
Santiago brought with him was a love for soccer, and while he holds down two jobs -- working landscaping during the days with his father,
Hernan (
Tony Plana), and as a busboy at night -- he still dreams of playing the game professionally, and spends his precious spare time with an amateur team in Los Angeles. One day,
Santiago is approached by
Glen Foy (
Stephen Dillane), a part-time scout for powerhouse British team Newcastle United;
Glen has seen
Santiago play and thinks he has talent, and can get him a tryout with Newcastle if he can make his way to England. While
Hernan refuses to help
Santiago pay for the trip, his grandmother (
Miriam Colon) empties her savings to help him follow his dream.
Santiago's first reserve game with the team happens during a typically British rainstorm, with
Santiago suffering a mild asthma attack to boot; he doesn't play at his best and is turned away from the team, but he refuses to go home, determined to make good. After striking up a friendship with star kicker
Gavin Harris (
Alessandro Nivola) and demonstrating his mettle to coach
Mal Braithwaite (
Gary Lewis),
Santiago earns a second chance to show Newcastle United what he can do and make his father proud of him.
Goal! was a major international hit, and a sequel was already in production before the film opened in the United States in the spring of 2006.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
;)
