Movie review – “Goal” (2005) **1/2

Dopey sports movie which succeeds in being enormously likeable by virtue of its dopiness. A Mexican living in LA makes his name as a player for Newcastle United (who surely must have a feature film division – they also appeared in Purely Belter). Along the way he receives support from his loving grandma and kid brother, kindly former player who spots him (Stephen Dillane), gruff coach, pretty nurse, even the team mega star and a player who is nasty to him for a bit. The only baddies are his Billy Elliot type dad (“you can’t play football you should join the family business”). Sweet and unpretentious with some engaging actors.