Recently, I took the kids to see GOAT. It’s become a tradition for me to take the kids to see their first movie and this was the first trip for Xavier. At three years old, he gave us a strong 45 minutes of focus on the film before he got restless. Popcorn and candy helped keep him entertained while the girls and I continued watching. Overall, the kids really enjoyed the film. As a parent, I think it was a good family film. The film was well written and there was enough humor to keep me engaged. The kids liked the different animals and how they interacted with one another.
Read further to see a break down of different aspects of the film.
A Visual Slam Dunk
- Cutting-Edge Animation: The movie features a stunning “Spider-Verse” inspired art style that feels like a living painting, mixing 3D CG with hand-drawn comic book aesthetics and vibrant watercolor backgrounds.
- Dynamic “Roarball” Action: The fast-paced basketball-style games are captured with an energetic virtual camera that makes every dunk and “ankle-break” feel intense. I thought this was a basketball movie (and for the most part it is) but the “Roarball” spin on the game gets points for originality.
- Creative World-Building: The animal metropolis of Vineland is an interesting mix where nature and urban architecture intertwine, featuring imaginative stadiums like a volcanic court over flowing magma.
Heart and Humor
- Deep Emotional Core: Beyond the sports, the film explores themes of family love, grieving a parent’s loss, and maintaining a legacy through the relationship between young Will Harris and his idol, Jett Fillmore.
- Witty Animal Comedy: It avoids cheap gags for smarter, character-driven humor that embraces the animals’ natural behaviors, such as Jett the panther drinking from a bowl or an ostrich burying its head in sand during stressful moments. There is no mindless slapstick comedy here.
- Inspirational Message: It delivers a powerful, message about self confidence for kids about overcoming being “overlooked or underrated” to achieve impossible dreams. I love showing the kids films that include some element of characters’ self belief being a factor in their success.
I give this film 4.5/5 pencils. Go see it!!
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