Plot: A small goat named Will gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball — a high-intensity, full-contact sport that’s dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world. Ridiculed by his teammates, Will becomes determined to revolutionize the sport and prove that “small can ball!”
This movie was surprisingly good.
Pros: How its all-celebrated basketball culture through different types of animals. All the voice cast were all spot on. The animation style does remind me of spider verse films. The story was very compelling to follow. I love the bond with will have with his teammates and the ending was satisfying it didn’t feel parody.
The film got a surprise standing ovation to the movie at the end.
Cons: The pacing was too fast moving and jarring. Dialogue is hard to follow due to noisy children in the cinema. Not a lot of developed time for the other teams and Flo got the short end of the stick.
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Animation, Adventure, Sports
Directed by Tyree Dillihay
Screenplay by Aaron Buchsbaum, Teddy Riley
Story by Nicolas Curcio, Peter Chiarelli
Based on Funky Dunksby Chris Tougas
Produced by Michelle Raimo Kouyate, Erick Peyton, Stephen Curry, Adam Rosenberg, Rodney Rothman
Starring: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Nick Kroll, Jenifer Lewis, Patton Oswalt, Jelly Roll, Jennifer Hudson, Sherry Cola, Eduardo Franco, Andrew Santino, Bobby Lee & Stephen Curry.
Cinematography:
Edited by Clare Knight
Music by Kris Bowers
Production companies: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Casts:
- Caleb McLaughlin as Will Harris, a teenage Boer goat who dreams of becoming a professional roarball player
- Luke Cimity as young Will Harris
- Gabrielle Union as Jett Fillmore, a famous all-star black panther roarball player, known as the “Face of the Thorns”, who is Will’s idol
- Aaron Pierre as Mane Attraction, an Andalusian horse who is the MVP of the league and Will’s rival
- Nicola Coughlan as Olivia Burke, an ostrich roarball player and member of the Thorns
- David Harbour as Archie Everhardt, an Indian rhinoceros roarball player, enforcer of the Thorns and a single father of twin daughters
- Nick Kroll as Modo Olachenko, a Komodo dragon roarball player and member of the Thorns who breathes fire
- Stephen Curry as Lenny Williamson, a giraffe roarball player and member of the Thorns
- Jenifer Lewis as Florence “Flo” Everson, a warthog and owner of the Vineland Thorns
- Patton Oswalt as Dennis Cooper, a proboscis monkey and the Thorns’ coach
- Jelly Roll as Grizz, a brutish grizzly bear roarball player
- Jennifer Hudson as Louise Harris, Will’s mother who passed away
- Sherry Cola as Hannah, an aardwolf who is Will’s friend
- Eduardo Franco as Daryl, a capybara who is Will’s friend
- Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee as Chuck and Rusty, a musk ox and bat duo who are roarball commentators
- Ayesha Curry as Carol, a llama who is owner of the diner in which Will’s mother worked
- Wayne Knight as Frank, a gerbil who is Will’s landlord
- Adam Pally as Gerald, an armadillo who stopped cheering for the Thorns
- Dwyane Wade as Rosette, a bull roarball player for the Shadows
- Kevin Love as Daskas, a gorilla roarball player for the Shadows
- Angel Reese as Propp, a polar bear roarball player for the Shivers
- A’ja Wilson as Kouyate, an American alligator roarball player for the Shadows
- Andre Iguodala as Iggy, a zebra roarball referee
- Joe La Puma as Sneaky, a vulture shoe shop owner
- VanVan as Adi and Ari, Archie’s twin daughters
I highly recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident Film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe