AP photo
From left, Hannah (voiced by Sherry Cola), Will (Caleb McLaughlin) and Daryl (Eduardo Franco) in a scene from Columbia Pictures and Sony Picture Animation’s ‘Goat.’
Animated sports movies have always leaned on the underdog formula, but “Goat” doesn’t just lean on it — it leans so hard it nearly tips over.
Despite some genuinely impressive animation and a few clever world-building touches, the film never rises above its predictable plotting or thin character work. For all its energy, “Goat” simply isn’t a good movie.
The story follows Will Harris (voiced by Caleb McLaughlin), a young goat who dreams of becoming a professional “roarball” player — roarball being this world’s lightly rebranded version of basketball. Will is one of the “smalls,” a group of undersized species routinely dismissed by the larger, stronger athletes who dominate the league.
The message is clear: size doesn’t determine talent. Unfortunately, the film repeats that message so often that it loses its impact.
Will’s life changes when a video of him playing streetball against Mane Attraction — an arrogant, trash-talking stallion voiced by Aaron Pierre — goes viral. Suddenly, Will is recruited by his hometown team, the Vineland Thorns. But the offer isn’t what it seems. Team owner Flo (Jenifer Lewis) hires him as a publicity stunt, with no intention of letting him actually play. It’s a setup that could have led to sharp satire or heartfelt drama, but the film never digs deeper than the surface.
The Thorns themselves are a mismatched group of athletes who barely function as a team. There’s a fiery Komodo dragon (Nick Kroll), a rhino with a temper (David Harbour), a nervous ostrich (Nicola Coughlan) and a rapping giraffe voiced by producer Stephen Curry. At the center is Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), a legendary panther whose best years may be behind her. She’s talented, proud, and terrified of aging out of the sport — a storyline that gives the film its most grounded emotional moments. Union brings a welcome layer of world-weary cynicism to Jett, but even she can’t elevate the thin writing around her.
Where “Goat” truly shines is in its animation. Sony Pictures Animation has built a reputation for bold, inventive visuals, and this film continues that trend. The world of Vineland is lush and imaginative, with branches, foliage, and natural textures woven directly into the architecture. Courts are surrounded by massive tree limbs, and restaurants and homes appear carved from living greenery. It’s a vibrant, tactile setting that feels alive in a way the story never does.
The roarball arenas are even more impressive. One court is covered in jagged stalagmites that players must dodge. Another is a sheet of cracking ice that threatens to drop athletes into freezing water mid-game. The final showdown takes place on a volcanic court that looks like Darth Vader designed a basketball arena on Mustafar, complete with flowing magma beneath the rock. These sequences are energetic, chaotic, and easily the most exciting parts of the film.
The animators also have fun reminding us that these characters are still animals. Panthers drink from bowls. Ostriches carry buckets of sand to bury their heads in. Players switch from two legs to four when the action heats up. These small touches add personality the script often lacks, and they provide some of the film’s best sight gags.
But clever animation can only carry a movie so far. The story plays things painfully safe. Every beat is predictable: the viral moment, the reluctant mentor, the selfish owner, the big game, the emotional turning point. There’s nothing wrong with a traditional sports arc, but “Goat” never finds a fresh angle or a memorable twist. Even the jokes feel familiar, leaning on crypto references and viral-video humor that already feel dated.
The emotional bond between Will and Jett gives the film a little weight, but it’s not enough to overcome the thin character development around them. The supporting cast gets a few funny moments, but no one stands out. Even Curry’s giraffe — a novelty on paper — barely registers.
In the end, “Goat” is a movie that looks far better than it plays. Kids may enjoy the colorful action and the animal antics, but adults will likely find themselves admiring the backgrounds more than the story unfolding in front of them.
Sony’s animators deliver the spectacle, but the script never matches their ambition. Brady, Jordan, Gretzky… those are GOATs. This kid? Not even in the barn.
Rating: PG
Runtime: 124 minutes
Grade: A-
•••
Greg Williams is a reporter and Weekend Editor for The Sentinel. A Mifflin County native, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.