“Harris might be small but he came up big.”
This was my favorite quote from “Goat,” an animated movie that debuted in theatres on Feb. 13. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette, the movie follows the journey of Will Harris, voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, an undersized goat who is determined to play roar ball — a sport similar to basketball — despite his physical size. It also stars Stephen Curry as the voice of Lenny Williamson, Gabrielle Union as Jett Fillmore, and Aaron Pierre as Mane Attraction. The movie’s motto: “You’re never too small to dream big.”
The story begins when Jett Filmore, the star of the hometown team called the Thorns, starts to get rusty. The Thorns are a poor-performing team that desperately needs a sixth player to revitalize the fanbase. Seeing an opening, the protagonist Will continues practicing to join the team despite discouraging comments from other animals. In a pickup match against Mane Attraction, the best roar ball player, Will, loses but goes viral online for his impressive play.
This prompts the Thorns’ owner to sign Will to the team. However, the start of his career is disappointing, as teammates are skeptical that his small stature could lead them to victory, and he is benched for most of his early games. Finally, during a crucial game, Jett gets a technical foul, giving Will a chance to play. He eventually scores a huge basket and the game-winning assist.
One of the movie’s sentimental aspects is the relationship between Will and his mother. She died when he was young, but her wise words continue to motivate Will through the adversity he endures.
Once Will proves himself and establishes a relationship with his teammates, Jett begins to believe in the team. The two develop mutual respect, leading to a winning streak that results in a playoff berth. But before their semifinal game, the owner of the Thorns tells Jett she intends to sell the team to another city after the season. Though it was an unexpected plot twist, I personally loved how the conflict brought the team together at a crucial point in the season, highlighting the deep bonds within a basketball team.
My favorite part of the movie is when Will steps up as a leader. With Jett injured during the championship game, team morale was low by halftime. That is, until Will showed everyone the words ‘Dream Big’ written on his shoes, and everyone’s mood was instantly lifted. Ultimately, the movie ended in a somewhat predictable, but fitting way, with Will scoring the game-winning shot to win the Claw trophy.
Although “Goat” may seem like a movie exclusively for sports fans, it carries important messages about dreaming big and working hard, regardless of what others say.
