GOAT might be this generation’s Coach Carter or Remember the Titans. It’s an emotional sports story with far more heart than I expected.
The film follows Will, a small goat who gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go pro and play roarball, a high-intensity, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest and fiercest animals in the world. He joins the Vineland Thorns, where he’s ridiculed by his teammates and constantly underestimated. Instead of backing down, Will becomes determined to revolutionise the sport and prove that “small can ball”.
I was hooked from the start, even though I knew exactly where the story was going. Sometimes a predictable movie is better than one wrapped in mystery, and GOAT proves that a classic sports-movie formula can still be incredibly fun. The film looks beautiful, the voice acting is fantastic, and the emotional beats land exactly where they should.
Yes, the story follows familiar sports-movie territory, but it’s the characters and the animation that truly set it apart. It’s about the underdog trying to prove himself, but it’s also about the has-been who still believes they’ve got something left to give. It’s a movie for everyone, and honestly, I loved it. Let me tell you why.
I always focus first on how a movie makes me feel, and this one hits all the emotional notes. It’s wholesome, heartfelt, and almost made me shed a tear or two. The film balances those emotional moments with genuinely great humour. The jokes are meta, sharp, and surprisingly relatable, much like the story itself.
Caleb McLaughlin voices Will Harris, while Gabrielle Union stars as Jett Fillmore, a jaguar on Will’s team. Jett is an ageing player unwilling to give up, and she initially sees Will as a rival. Their chemistry is excellent, and watching their relationship evolve is one of the film’s highlights.
The cast also includes Stephen Curry as Lenny Williamson, Nicola Coughlan as Olivia Burke, Nick Kroll as Modo Olachenko, David Harbour as Archie Everhardt, Jenifer Lewis as Florence “Flo” Everson, Aaron Pierre as Mane Attraction, and Patton Oswalt as Dennis Cooper.
McLaughlin delivers a standout performance that makes Will instantly likeable and easy to root for. The rest of the cast bring their A-game as well, with Nick Kroll’s performance as Modo the Komodo dragon being a particular highlight. It also helps that the movie looks absolutely incredible.
The animation comes from the team behind the Spider-Verse films and K-Pop Demon Hunters, and if you love that style, you’ll know exactly what to expect. I absolutely adore it. The world feels lived-in, vibrant, and yet refreshingly new.
It feels like they took the world of Zootropolis and layered it with something bolder and more extreme. Each roarball court has its own unique design, making the sport feel dangerous and electric. The animal designs are fantastic, and there’s even a fun resemblance between Will and Stephen Curry, who also produced the film.
No great movie works without great sound, and GOAT absolutely delivers. The soundtrack slaps, some characters even drop diss tracks, and the sound design perfectly blends the rawness of the wild with an urban city atmosphere.
GOAT not only looks and sounds great, but it also proves that original animated films still have a place alongside endless sequels and remakes. It’s a movie for the whole family and one that’s best experienced on the big screen.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
