'Next Goal Wins' is a delightful sports comedy about the worst soccer team in history

Taika Waititi is one of those filmmakers whose movies I'll see no matter what they're about. Like Wes Anderson films, Waititi's have an unmistakable aesthetic that is getting more refined with each film. And there's always a sense of fun.

So when I heard about "Next Goal Wins," loosely based on the true story of the American Samoa soccer team and an American coach tasked with trying to help them get just one goal during their season, I knew I wanted to see it. Even if sports comedy isn't my usual genre of choice, I couldn't wait to see what Waititi would do with the story.

I wasn't disappointed.

What is 'Next Goal Wins' about?

American Samoa (not to be confused with the independent nation of Samoa), infamously lost to Australia in the 2001 FIFA match with a humiliating final score of 31-0.

They were the laughing stock of the soccer world, so the head of the American Samoa team put in a request for qualified coach. They end up with Thomas Rongen. A man with serious anger issues. Rongen, at least in the film, is given a choice: coach American Samoa or leave soccer completely. Bitterly he heads to the island.

His one directive? Get the American Samoan team into some semblance of respectability for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

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'Next Goal Wins' is full of characters with humor and heart

"Next Goal Wins" opens with a narration by Waititi, who plays the island's priest. He lays out the culture and mood of American Samoa in just a few sentences of his rhythmic, slightly stilted way of speaking.

There's a certain laissez-faire to all of Waititi's characters, aside from Rongen, of course.

Tavita, played by Oscar Kightley, is the head of the soccer team. He is also the cameraman on the island's top-viewed show and a restauranteur. Tavita just wants Rongen to get the team to score one goal. Not even to win a game, but just to get one point on the board.

As he sees it, if it happens, great! If not, well, there are other things to be grateful for. His attitude is representative of most of the island residents.

Rongen, played brilliantly by Michael Fassbender, is the complete opposite of chill. Prone to throwing chairs and shouting at refs, he's basically the "loser" of the coaching world and as such is sent to American Samoa to "cool his head."

It's not an unusual story, but a unique telling that makes 'Next Goal Wins' such a pleasure

One of the most moving relationships in the whole film is between Rongen and Jaiyah, played by the non-binary actor Kaimana. Jaiyah is a fa’afafine, which is a third gender widely accepted in both Samoa and American Samoa. For Western viewers we might tend to oversimplify this by saying she is "transgender," but it's more nuanced than that. And Jaiyah does go by the pronouns she/her.

Unsurprisingly, Rongen doesn't take to Jaiyah at first. He criticizes her for twirling her hair and "standing around." But Jaiyah is in fact one of the best players on the team. And she's the first to make an overture to Rongen to build a bridge and create understanding between them.

The scene where the two of them share a drink on the beach and just get to know each other is simple but perfect.

It's not a usual story: a down on its luck team that has its own way of doing things turns a jaded coach into a human with a heart. We've all seen that before. But, Waititi's singular style makes it a joy to watch and a film worth cheering for.

'Next Goal Wins' 4.5 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Taika Waititi

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Kightley, Kaimana, Rachel House

Rating: PG-13 for crude material and some strong language

How to watch: In theaters November 17

Contact Kaely Monahan at kaely.monahan@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on our podcasts Valley 101 and The Gaggle, and on Twitter @KaelyMonahan.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Next Goal Wins' review: Taika Waititi's wildly funny, charming film