Goal! The Dream Begins (PG)
Soccer + melodrama. Older tweens and up.
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Seen the movie?
Movie details
- Studio: Buena Vista Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures
- Directed By: Danny Cannon
- Cast: Stephen Dillane, Kuno Becker
- Running Time: 118 minutes
- Release Date: 05/12/2006
- Video/DVD Release Date: 09/12/2006
- Genre: Drama
- MPAA Rating: PG
- MPAA Explanation: language, sexual situations, and some thematic material including partying.
Parents need to know
Parents need to know that film includes some loud and body-slamming soccer action, usually leading to someone's face bruised or a limb brutally banged. Characters lie to one another (including family members) in order to achieve ambitions. British teammates make fun of Santiago at first. A decadent star soccer player appears drunk and hung over repeatedly; he also appears with multiple sex partners (sex takes place off-screen, following brief kiss or embrace). Characters smoke cigarettes and drink, a couple of characters appear to have been snorting cocaine during a party scene, as they sniff and rub their noses.
Families can talk about the conflict between Santiago and his father, as they clash over how best to support the family. How does the film resolve this relationship, even though they don't see one another again after Santiago leaves L.A.? How does the grandmother help to bring them together? Why do so many sports movies tend to focus on the same themes?
Families can talk about the conflict between Santiago and his father, as they clash over how best to support the family. How does the film resolve this relationship, even though they don't see one another again after Santiago leaves L.A.? How does the grandmother help to bring them together? Why do so many sports movies tend to focus on the same themes?
Message
Social Behavior:
Santiago and his father argue repeatedly about his dream to play soccer; Hernan complains about the wife who abandoned her family; Santiago hides his asthma from team; Gavin is a hard partier and womanizer who learns to be serious about his work (soccer).
Consumerism:
Lots of Adidas product and billboards, less Coca-Cola, mention of Blockbuster video, some name-branded cars (Mercedes).
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Characters drink at parties and appear hung over afterwards; characters smoke cigarettes; allusion to cocaine use (character makes snorting noises).
Violence
Soccer action can be brutal (smashing bodies with added smash-sound-effects, falling in mud), leading to various damage: a broken leg, bruises, and joint-wrenching, bloody injuries.
Sex
Group sexual activity at party insinuated, then makes tabloid headlines; Gavin has sex with girl (we see kiss only, the scene cuts to next morning in bed, as he wakes up hung over); Santiago kisses his nurse/girlfriend Roz.
Language
Language mostly expresses anger or frustration: "bull-snot," "shite" (a few times as a running joke, to show that Gavin is a disappointment to his fans), "boneheads," "hell," comment on getting the "squirts" in Mexico.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Cynthia Fuchs
A dedicated soccer (or football, as it's called in Europe) player from the time he was a child, Santiago leaves Mexico with his father Hernan (Tony Plana) in search of a new life in Los Angeles. As a young man, Santiago (now played by Kuno Becker) works for his father's gardening company, but hangs onto his dream of being a soccer champion. When he's spotted by a former scout for Newcastle United, Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane), he makes his way to England in order to try out for the team. In England, Santiago faces a number of trials and obstacles in pursuit of his dream.
Is it any good?
A generically inspirational sports movie, GOAL! THE DREAM BEGINS focuses on the worldwide popularity of soccer. While the movie is full of clichés and runs too long, it does raise some timely issues, almost in spite of itself. For one thing, it reveals the difficulties of Santiago's life in a Los Angeles barrio, with his father, younger brother, and grandmother Rose (Miriam Colon): They have no chance at social mobility, despite years of hard work and following the rules, as they are technically "illegal." By the same token, once Santiago proves himself as a player, his new employers are eager to exploit his potential, as a winner and money-maker. Santiago's dream, in other words, hinges on making someone else wealthy. That said, he looks very happy when he score a big goal on television.
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Parents and kids say
All Reviews
There are 4 reviews.
Posted on 06/19/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11
Posted on 11/03/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
Age 13+
Posted on 10/11/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Adult Reviews
There are 1 reviews.
Age 13+
Posted on 10/11/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor
Kids Reviews
There are 3 reviews.
Posted on 06/19/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11
Posted on 11/03/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 12
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