While it might not be the slam-dunk everyone aimed for, “GOAT,” a bustling animated venture that’s co-produced by the Warriors Stephen Curry (who also voices a giraffe) and hails from the the Unanimous Media company he co-founded, succeeds where it needs to — as family entertainment for aspiring athletes. They’re the target audience and they’ll eat this up.
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Directors Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette, along with a trio of screenwriters and a team of animators, whip up an extra-busy “Zootopia”-like world called Vineland where behind-in-his-rent goat Will (Caleb McLaughlin) earns a fast break when an unscrupulous owner — warthog Florence Everson (Jenifer Lewis) — puts him on the team of his dreams, the Thorns.
Will’s short stature and lack of experience irks his idol Jett Filmore (Gabrielle Union, doing some complex voice acting), the Thorns’ aging star player. The motley crew of interesting players and teammates deserve more screen time, in particular a Komodo dragon (Nick Kroll). Other voice actors in the star-studded lineup include Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Jenifer Lewis, Patton Oswalt, Jelly Roll, Jennifer Hudson and more.
All the athletes crave The Claw trophy, the pinnacle of success. The cranked-up sports action — the central game, called roarball, is a cross between “Rollerball” and basketball — makes for some energetic, wild sequences, but the best moments come when “GOAT” takes a breath and lets Jett and Will to get to know each other and talk about their strengths, hopes, faults and fears.
‘GOAT’
3 stars out of 4
Rating: PG (Brief rude humor and language)
Voice cast: Caleb McLaughlin, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, Nicola Coughlan, David Harbour, Nick Kroll, Stephen Curry, Ayesha Curry, Jenifer Lewis, Patton Oswalt, more
Directors: Tyree Dillihay, Adam Rosette
Running time: 100 minutes
When & where: Now playing in theaters