Coming off the visual pinnacle which was Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023), GOAT (2026) is Sony’s newest theatrical release, confidently delivering on the studio’s increasingly signature stylistic aesthetic. The only caveat? It’s every bit as cheesy as you would expect a film titled after the acronym for “Greatest of all Time” and starring a goat with basketball dreams to be.

I recently had the opportunity to see an advance screening of GOAT at HOYTS and it was undeniably fun to say the least. Starring Will, a spunky, undersized goat in a world where “bigs” dominate the sport of roarball, the film follows a cliché rise to stardom as he navigates the cutthroat league and challenges of playing with his hometown idol, Jett the black panther.

At first glance, it’s hard not to initially compare GOAT to Disney’s Zootopia. Both films' underdog protagonists try to seriously combat inequality in a world where animal puns and gags ultimately reign supreme. However, unlike Zootopia, the novelty of Sony’s stylistic flair injects a much-needed freshness into the overdone blandness of the anthropomorphic film genre (*cough* The Secret Life of Pets). 

Right away, GOAT stands out by visually launching you into its hyperactive world of roarball. From falling stalactites to lava floors, each city’s arena dynamically reflects its environment, quickly making the sport feel intrinsic to the world’s culture. The film’s main setting, Vineland (Will’s hometown and the city Jett’s team represents) best encapsulates that. Spiraling vines, lush textures and overgrown subway systems that surround a gritty roarball court, Sony’s signature painterly touch brings Vineland to life and make it authentically urban.

And it doesn’t stop at the backgrounds. Seeing Will and his eclectic cast of teammates play roarball only deepened my appreciation of the film’s frenetic animation. Each crossover and highlight dunk feels electric. The rotation of interactive arenas provides ample opportunity for high-flying moments, while the sheer exhilaration of bold angles and whirring camera movement is further elevated by Kris Bowers’ Spiderverse-like score. The only thing is, it never really stops to take a breath across its hour-and-a-half sprint.

Throughout the film, Will has to quickly grapple with his newfound fame and team. And the complexities of his idol Jett, who has her own ego woes. And his ruthless rival, Mane Attraction (yes that’s actually his name). And did I even mention Will’s poor upbringing and single mother yet?

GOAT has the foundations of a great underdog story and there are genuinely heartwarming moments between Will and his surprisingly charming teammates. But ultimately, its runtime really holds it back which is especially noticeable in the third act, where storylines and arcs are breezed past. The final match is barely eight minutes long and Will doesn’t feel nearly as heroic or developed as he could be. With the detail invested into the backstories of Will and roarball, there is so much untapped potential in storytelling; it's a shame that the other cities weren’t explored more too. GOAT clearly never intended to be too sophisticated, but it is unfortunate that its break-neck pace leaves the narrative feeling underwhelming.

Despite this, there’s no doubt that GOAT embraces its absurdity and makes the most out of its limits. With Stephen Curry as a producer, the film has an obvious understanding of the cultural and digital quirks that make up the modern basketball community. From sneaker culture to ragebait livestreams and over-the-top commentator personalities, GOAT jam-packs its runtime with sports ​​vernacular and references that pay surprisingly proper homage to the sport and NBA fans like me. Even the humour mostly lands, with over-the-top songs and antics always getting a good laugh out of the packed theatre.

While it’s certainly not going to end up on the pantheon of animated films, nor have the long-lasting cultural staying power of Spider-Verse, GOAT feels like a personal celebration of how far animation and basketball have come as a medium and culture to intersect like this. Unapologetically bright, loud and as flashy as the sensory spectacle of a real-life NBA match, GOAT proves that you can’t go too wrong with a rushed underdog story as long as you have good visuals to back it up.