Review of Goal II: Living the Dream (2007) by Simon D — 13 Apr 2009

As I had expected (see review on Goal 1 posted several months ago), Goal 2 - Living the Dream, is a no-surprise next-step-up-the-ladder sequel to Santiago Munez's rise as a star. This time we leave the grey and rainy Newcastle for the yellow and hot Madrid.

In terms of fictitious/real-life character combination sequences, I thought that Goal 2 was an improvement, despite some over-the-top goals and ball skills by Munez.

Real Madrid seem to be a bunch of friends all smiling at training and all there to congratulate each other after a goal has been scored. Although extremly predictable, they win the Champions League and even more predictable Munez scores some of the vital qualification goals.

Besides football, the film attempts to deal with sub plots more or less awkwardly. His relationship with Roz is put under difficulty quite well. The evolution of the Gavin Harris character is also quite funny. However, the growing relationship between Munez and his half brother and mother was given too little thought and screen time.

The young and naive Munez of Goal 1 also changes. This is due to his stardom. He becomes a Galacticos with a white Lamborghini and a huge mansion whilst relegating his girlfriend and removing his Newcastle agent-become-mechanic (played by Stephan Dillane) from the picture. He is certainly less likeable and I thought, as a consequence of that, less interesting. Gavin Harris raises more smiles than Munez.

The many unfinished story leads will be dealt with in Goal 3 whenever that will be released. But given the predictability of the plot, I reckon it will be a Mexico vs England World Cup final in which Munez will score a winning goal for Mexico after a Gavin Harris equaliser for England. Expect Roz and the mechanic to jump into his arms as he lifts Jules Rimet.