Attitude plays a big role in the movie “The Beautiful Game.”
Coming out on Netflix this week, the sports comedy-drama sheds light on the Homeless World Cup, an annual event where homeless male and female footballers play for their countries in small-sided “street” soccer matches.
The film is endorsed by the event’s organization and draws inspiration from true stories, with a focus on the English team and their coach.
Director Thea Sharrock and writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce have left much to be desired in terms of direction and screenplay.
The film flows like a match with few scoring chances, but manages to succeed in the end.
Bill Nighy stars as the coach, Mal, who is scouting for a former pro, Vinny, to join the team for the Homeless World Cup.
Mal discloses his involvement with the Homeless World Cup and his plan to take his 12th team to the tournament in Rome this year.
Vinny asks, “Have you ever won it?”.
Mal responds, “It’s not about winning.”
Vinny insists, “You’re desperate to win it.”
Mal says, “Well, I wouldn’t object.”
Mal shares that every player at the tournament has a captivating story and encourages Vinny to join the Homeless World Cup for reasons beyond his exceptional playing ability.
Initially reluctant, Vinny agrees to join the team, possibly to impress his daughter.
Despite initial distance, Vinny is warmly welcomed by the team, but adopts a self-centered playing style.
It's not Ward’s fault that Vinny is hard to like for too long, as the character's development is flawed.
As a result, viewers wish for more focus on Nighy's character, Mal, who has an intriguing dynamic with Gabriella, played by Valeria Golino.
“The Beautiful Game” tells smaller stories about the English players, with one involving Nathan (Callum Scott Howells), who is working to connect with his distant roommate, Vinny, while recovering from heroin addiction.
The film also pays attention to two other teams: South Africa, expected to dominate England’s group before facing travel issues; and Japan, competing for the first time. Susan Wokoma's lively portrayal of the nun coaching the South African team adds some energy to the movie, while the focus on Japan adds less.
Finally, we see Rosita (Cristina Rodlo), a highly skilled player for the U.S., catching the eye of British player Jason (Sheyi Cole), who doesn’t make a great first impression. After overcoming this, they spend some time together, with Rosita sharing why the Homeless World Cup could mean a lot for her future.
Comparing “The Beautiful Game” to a mix of “Ted Lasso” and “Next Goal Wins” gives a sense of what the film is like, although it’s not as strong as either the Apple TV+ hit or Taika Waititi's 2023 film.
Despite its flaws, “The Beautiful Game” effectively celebrates the Homeless World Cup, highlighting what it means for participants and its power to inspire others around the world.
According to the film’s production notes, the event has occurred 18 times since its start in 2003 in Graz, Austria. After a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Homeless World Cup took place last year in Sacramento, California, with this year’s event set for Seoul, South Korea, in September.
Several non-speaking roles in the film are played by individuals who have participated in the event, adding authenticity to “The Beautiful Game.”
Ultimately, the message Mal conveys about the Homeless World Cup may be accurate, that it’s not just about winning. Instead, it seems to be about lifting the spirit, as the movie based on it does.
‘The Beautiful Game’
Where: Netflix
When: March 29
Rated: Rated PG-13 for some language, a suggestive reference, brief partial nudity and drug references
Runtime: Duration: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Out of four stars: 2.5
