I Was Skeptical of 'GOAT'... Until This One Scene Changed Everything

I just walked out of the theater with the biggest, silliest grin on my face. Honestly, I went into 'GOAT' expecting a cute, forgettable kids' movie, but it completely surprised me. I'm still thinking about that final roarball sequence – my heart was actually pounding! It tapped into that universal underdog feeling in a way that felt fresh, even with a familiar premise. I caught myself cheering out loud at one point, which got a chuckle from the family next to me. It's just pure, joyful energy.

What's GOAT About?

The movie follows Will, a tiny goat with massive ambitions to play roarball, this wild, full-contact sport for the animal kingdom's elite athletes. It's his shot to prove that size doesn't define heart or skill. The story is about him trying to earn the respect of his powerhouse teammates, who are all bigger, faster, and initially, pretty dismissive of the little guy on their roster.

What Works in GOAT

• ✓ Caleb McLaughlin's voice work as Will is fantastic. He makes the goat's determination feel so genuine and never whiny.
• ✓ The animation during the roarball games is incredible. It's chaotic but you can always follow the action, which is a real feat.
• ✓ Jenifer Lewis, as the team's no-nonsense coach, steals every scene she's in. Her delivery is perfectly dry and hilarious.
• ✓ The movie has a great message about teamwork and leveraging your unique strengths that never feels preachy.

What Doesn't Work

• ✗ The villain, voiced by Nick Kroll, is pretty one-note. He's just generically smug and didn't feel like a real threat.
• ✗ Some of the plot beats are very predictable. You can see certain emotional moments coming from a mile away.
• ✗ A few of the side characters on the team don't get much development beyond their animal archetype.

Standout Moments & Performances

There's a quiet scene where Will, feeling totally defeated, has a heart-to-heart with his mom (voiced beautifully by Gabrielle Union). It's not flashy, but it felt so real – that moment when a parent's quiet belief is the only thing keeping you going. On the opposite end, the championship match is an animation marvel. There's a specific play where Will uses his small size to dart between the legs of a rhino player that had me and the whole theater gasping. The sound design in that sequence made the hits feel visceral.

Main Cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Jenifer Lewis, David Harbour, Nick Kroll

Direction, Music & Visuals

Director Tyree Dillihay really makes the world feel lived-in. The roarball arena designs are creative, mixing natural elements with high-tech animal gear. The voice cast is uniformly great; David Harbour brings a wonderful, gruff warmth to the team's veteran leader. The music is energetic and pumps you up for the games, though it's not particularly memorable afterwards. The real star is the animation fluidity, especially in the action. They gave each animal species a distinct movement style that informs how they play the sport, which was a brilliant touch.

Director: Tyree Dillihay

Genres: Animation, Comedy, Family, Action

Who Should Watch GOAT?

This is perfect for families, obviously. Kids will love the animals and action, and parents will appreciate the heart. But I'd also recommend it to anyone who loves a well-executed sports underdog story. If you're a fan of movies like 'Space Jam' or 'How to Train Your Dragon' that build a fun world around a core emotional journey, you'll have a great time. It's a fantastic 'feel-good' pick-me-up.

Who Might Want to Skip?

If you're looking for a complex, gritty narrative or deep philosophical themes, this isn't it. It's a straightforward, earnest story. Cynics who can't get on board with a talking goat playing a fictional animal sport should probably steer clear.

Final Verdict