Santiago Munez (Kuno Becker) is an illegal immigrant living with his dad, grandmother and little brother in LA. He works two jobs and spends his free time playing soccer with a local no-name Latino league. Glen Foy (Stephen Dillane) is a former English football (that's soccer for us Americans) scout who's in the states on vacation when he sees Munez play and immediately contacts his colleagues back in the UK. If Munez can get to London, they'll give him a chance to try out for the Newcastle United Club. His dad hates the idea and tries his hardest to keep him from going, but fate steps in and whisks him away to the UK.

  After some disappointing tryouts and bad luck, Santiago prepares throw away his dreams and to go back to LA. He says goodbye to his new love interest, Nurse Roz Harmison (Anna Friel) and teammates. But fate interrupts yet again, and Santiago is given another shot. Feeling a bit more confident knowing he has time to impress the coaches, his skills clearly return and wows everyone. He becomes chummy with football superstar Gavin Harris, played by Alessandro Nivola, who did a fantastic job playing the team's overpaid, egotistical pretty boy. Santiago gets hit with his third bout of misfortune, and he prepares (again) to throw in the towel and return to the states. Finally, he listens to his heart and decides that he needs to continue playing with Newcastle. They gladly accept him back and it's off to the climatic game against Liverpool.

  We're left guessing until the end which team comes away a winner, but one thing is for sure: Goal! will definitely win over your heart & even the most cynical movie-goers will be impressed. Except for some very minor continuity issues, Goal! plays all positions in the field well. Goal! is rated PG for language, sexual situations and thematic situations including partying. I give it 4.5 out of 5 Addidas Endorsements.

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Anne is a writer, artist & coffee addict who lives with her husband and two emotionally unstable cats in the Dallas area. She works at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall and in her free time enjoys badly impersonating foreign accents, photography, and eating anything chocolate. You can reach Anne on her blog at Flowerdust.net.