Goal! II: Living the Dream (2007)

I would have to note that first off there truly aren't many movies that encompass football/soccer on the big screen as well as this movie has done thus the lenient rating of a 7 although it is more like 6.6 and just rounded up. Any fan or player had to get goosebumps hearing the roar of the crowd and seeing the superstar players performing on the pitch. I thought it was cool that they showed the multiple aspects of a players life with the clubs, the autographs, the interviews, the practices, the rehab, and even the somewhat futile attempts at having a normal family life while being a celebrity.Let me also point out that I understand that this is a movie and the director has created drama on and off the pitch. However, at times rather than watch this movie I wanted to kick my soccer ball at the screen in disgust. There were numerous points in the movie that were so Hollywood and unfortunately less reality thus validating the original concept of this movie being a dream. For instance, Santiago plays for Real Madrid not a pick up team yet the computer his brother uses to check on him looks like it from the 90's rather than 2008. He is portrayed as this family-first guy but he can't buy his real brother a laptop or something? I thought that Friel's role of Roz was utterly annoying as the always crying and moping around superstar girlfriend. For the entire movie she acts like she is dating some bloke that she met at the pub. The guy played for Newcastle when you met him which is pretty significant and then goes on to play for Real Madrid which speaks for itself and she is upset because he doesn't have time to pick out paint for the house? Not to mention that it isn't even close to a contest in choosing whom to be with between Roz and Varela's character of Jordana. But moving on from that, look I get the attempt of trying to add drama by bringing in Santiago's mother but the chances of what happens in this movie are so remote that they could have sooner told me his mother won the lottery and met him at some gala. Out of the almost 2 mill Latino immigrants to Spain around 20,000 are from Mexico. Add on top of that he just so happens to be in the same town as she and his 1/2 brother are living? Highly unlikely but speaking of 1/2 brother. How this little brat didn't get punted back to the juvenile correctional facility he deserves to be in is beyond me. Stealing Santiago's gear is one thing but this mastermind tracks Santiago down, follows him to the club and then steals his Lambo, crashes it and survives. That was way to much to believe could happen considering the kid could hardly see over the dash without a phonebook under him.Overall I thought this movie had real potential but in reality it went to corny with trying to draw suspense. If anything they should have expanded on Nivola's character of Gavin and just cut out the sappy girlfriend and unbelievable role of the abandoning-mother and neglected 1/2 brother. What would have been more believable is Santiago dropping Roz for the hot Jordana and if you must have the mom in it, having her come out of the woodwork trying to weasel and get money from Santiago. That is more like the real world and less like the dream that is portrayed in this movie.

This is not a good Football movie (Yes I said Football because thats what its called, not soccer)Generally football movies aren't good because they truly fail to capture what is so great about the game. Also I watch the Cahmpions league and many of the games from the Spanish league and it doesn't work for me when you actually know what truly happened in those games, for example Madrid lost against Arsenal, and actually didn't get that far in champions that year. I agree with what many of you have said, the film is a HUGE Adidas commercial and the fact that when the movie came out, many of the players weren't in Real Madrid anymore. and Im sorry but Owen for Muñez is not a plot twist, that actually happened, the difference is that Owen was bought by Newcastle not switched.The main problem with the movie is that if you are a true football fan you know that many of stunts pulled off in the movie could never be pulled off in real life and that is where the movie looses a lot of its credibility. The cameos of famous players were fantastic although I don't agree with the over exposure of Beckham but the other cameos are great. And trust me the third one is going to be bad the first one was not bad, the third one was bad and I truly hope the next one isn't worse than this one.

I've watched both the goal movies and what i feel is that the music doesn't give that much support to the screenplay... the music could've been a little more wild and loud... also everything becomes predictable very long before it happens... a slightly better focus could've been given to the pace of the movie....The dialogue part should've definitely been improved especially the part where santi's gf cries... the dialogue lacks a little logic.... also his little brother driving off on the lamborghini part... he is from a small poor neighbourhood and he drives a car.. i don't buy it... and he shows his middle finger to his bro... why would he do that??

i have to say i loved the first film of the GOAL! series, the sequel is also very good but not as good as the first.....The film shows how all the fame and fortune of playing football for one of the worlds biggest clubs can get too your head, his girlfriend and he fallout and she goes back to England and even at the end we don't know where there relationship will go (although me and some of my friends agreed that they will get back together)In the end David Beckham scores the winner for Real Madrid (With Munez and Harris getting the others) against Arsenal to win the Champions League Final 3-2!This film was really good, but not as good as the first in my opinion, can't wait for the third one to come out!