By Lillie Liska
The creators behind GOAT call the animated sports movie a “love letter” to moms everywhere, including their own.
Set in an all-animal world, GOAT follows “Will, a small goat with big dreams who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to join the pros and play roarball — a high-intensity, co-ed, full-contact sport dominated by the fastest, fiercest animals in the world.”
“Will’s new teammates aren’t thrilled about having a little goat on their roster, but Will is determined to revolutionize the sport and prove once and for all that ‘smalls can ball!’” Sony Pictures’ synopsis reads.
At a recent press conference, director Tyree Dillihay said that going to “your first basketball game, your first sporting event” is a core memory for every child.
In the movie, Will experiences that moment with his mom.
“The other part of that, you know — I’m about to go deep about what happened…when I heard the music — but in that moment of when Will sees [roarball legend] Jett for the first time in in the fur, if you will, and he’s looking at her and he said, ‘That’s going to be me, Mom. I’m gonna be just like her.’ Like, that’s a very powerful statement for a little boy to make — that his hero is a woman,” the director explained.
Related: Jelly Roll Celebrates Voice Acting Debut in This Children’s Movie: ‘God Is So, So Good’
He added that in that moment, Will also finds his purpose, and “then later we get the message from mom…to dream big.”
Dillihay added that those moments felt “really emotionally resonant,” especially for moms in the movie’s test groups.
Co-director Adam Rosette echoed Dillihay’s sentiments, reflecting on his own mother.
“I think on a personal level, like my mom was an artist who gave up her dream when we were kids to help us get through life,” Rosette said, “and she became a teacher and helped put food on the table, clothes on our backs, all that stuff.”
“And when I do this with you — make this movie together — that’s my love letter to her as well. So those things in the movie had a kind of extra special meaning to me where it’s like he wants to win for more than himself,” he said of Will’s aspirations. “He wants to win for her.”
The movie stars Caleb McLaughlin as Will, Gabrielle Union as Jett, NBA legend Stephen Curry as Lenny, Nicola Coughlan as Olivia, Nick Kroll as Modo Olachenko and David Harbour Archie Everhardt. Country artist Jelly Roll makes his voice acting debut and created the song “I’m Good” for the soundtrack.
“God is so, so good,” Jelly Roll posted when he announced his role in the movie.
Curry, who also produced the movie, previously said that GOAT promotes fun family themes.
“It has something in there for every generation,” he told USA TODAY in November. “We’re bringing something that hopefully is inspiring, something that brings family together, and something that’s uplifting to a lot of different people in the audience that can find their best selves through one of the characters.”
Movieguide® gave GOAT a -1 content score. Part of the review reads:
GOAT conveys a strong Biblical/moral worldview throughout the whole story. Will is hopeful and believes in his dreams, not being concerned with his height but more with his character and abilities. Will perseveres through every trial he faces, lifting those around him as well as standing up for what’s right. It’s a fun movie that children will enjoy, but scenes with violence during gameplay and other scary elements may not be suitable for young children. MOVIEGUIDE® advises parents to use discernment before watching GOAT, especially if your child is easily frightened by intense action.
GOAT debuts in theaters this Friday, Feb. 13.
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