Goal II: Living the Dream (2007)

39% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
68% of users liked it
(23,572 ratings)

The Jaume Collet-Serra-directed comedy drama Goal! 2: Living the Dream finds star European soccer player Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker) bumped by his agent (Stephen Dillane) from England's Newcastle United team to Real Madrid's Galácticos, where he is thrilled to play alongside field legends David… More The Jaume Collet-Serra-directed comedy drama Goal! 2: Living the Dream finds star European soccer player Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker) bumped by his agent (Stephen Dillane) from England's Newcastle United team to Real Madrid's Galácticos, where he is thrilled to play alongside field legends David Beckham, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and others. In off-time, temptation lingers in the form of amorous dalliances with spicy local women, especially the TV hostess Jordana (Leonor Varela) -- a relationship that threatens the security of his marital engagement to Geordie nurse Roz (Anna Friel), who has accompanied him to Spain. During his time in Madrid, Santiago also discovers, most unexpectedly and poignantly, what happened to the mother who abandoned him during his early childhood. Alessandro Nivola co-stars as Santiago's pal Gavin. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra
Written By: Mike Jeffries, Adrian Butchart, Terry Loane
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 9, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Nov 4, 2008
Studio: Freestyle Releasing

Critic Reviews

Linda Barnard, Toronto Star
Despite the predictable, cliché-riddled script, the soap-opera hokum that passes for drama, Goal II somehow works.
Jason Anderson, Globe and Mail
Goal II clumsily telegraphs all of its moves far in advance.
Don Willmott, Filmcritic.com
If your kids play soccer, they may appreciate this tall tale of Santi's rise from obscurity to shin-padded glory, but once you pop in the DVD, chances are you won't want to stick around.
Jim Slotek, Jam! Movies
Bullet time, pixellation, flashy graphics, slow-motion-sweat, all wrapped around a rather flimsy story about the kid from the barrio dealing with paparazzi, millions of fans and a salary in the millions of Euros.
Brian Orndorf, eFilmCritic.com
The idea of turning a 10-minute idea into a trilogy of movies seemed imposing at first, but Goal II continues the franchise's recipe of personality over originality.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
One isn't eager to see extra time played and the 'To be continued' line at the end is more ominous than enticing. Once again, film-makers demonstrate that old adage, never give soccer an even break.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Intriguing to watch and well-played by the engaging cast.
Derek Malcolm, This is London
I won't tell you the result, but I will say that Arsene Wenger would be wise to avoid Goal 2 in case he suffers from terminal apoplexy.
Johnny Vaughan, Sun Online
Next stop the World Cup . . . can't wait.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
Becker, who made the first instalment just about passable, is bland here while Alessandro Nivola, who plays his best pal, looks rightly bored.
Tom Hawker, Total Film
Not quite the guilty pleasure the first movie was, Goal! 2 can't quite stick it in the back of the net, pull off the double etc, etc...
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
A machine might have directed this, but it has a few more welcome touches of comedy than the first one.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
One long, product-placing, non-speaking-cameo-packed infomercial.
Neil Smith, Film4
It's a game of two halves, and both of them suck in a flat-footed follow-up that doesn't bode well for the inevitable Goal! 3.
Jonathan Trout, BBC
Ultimately, this is relegation fodder from start to finish.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Cliched but nonetheless enjoyable - if you liked the first film, you won't be disappointed by the second one. Unless you're an Arsenal fan.
Trevor Johnston, Time Out
A game of two halves, both of them dire.
Olly Richards, Empire Magazine
Filmically it's more of a pleasantly diverting kick about in the park than a 90th minute back-of-the-net at the world cup final.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean !

A decent follow up to the first film, with the young Mexican snapped up by Real Madrid in the January transfer window to help their champions league campaign. Again this has plenty of guest stars playing themselves and the football games and scenes are very well done. Plot wise the… More
A decent follow up to the first film, with the young Mexican snapped up by Real Madrid in the January transfer window to help their champions league campaign. Again this has plenty of guest stars playing themselves and the football games and scenes are very well done. Plot wise the new kid on the block has to cope with fame and fortune, the press, living abroad with his wife back in Newcastle and finding his mother. Not as deep story wise as the first, you do need to watch that first really and I wasn't happy with the quick ending waiting for the third installment, but this is about as good a film about football as can be made. Next up Goal 3 at the World cup!!
Manu G

It was really good, didn't quite surpass the original but it was close to it. Love the play scenes!!! Awesome movie! After gaining experience with the football club Newcastle United, Santiago Munez (Becker) gets a huge break when he's transferred to Real Madrid.
Lorenzo v

Announcer: Cometh the moment, cometh the man. As far as movies go, this is an entirely predictable movie but its pretty decent. If you want a nice Sunday film where you don't have to think, its ideal. The football bits are quite good, the cameos are great and… More
Announcer: Cometh the moment, cometh the man. As far as movies go, this is an entirely predictable movie but its pretty decent. If you want a nice Sunday film where you don't have to think, its ideal. The football bits are quite good, the cameos are great and the story is reasonably engaging. Im not saying its brilliant by any means but I don't think it deserves the negative comments its had. Its a good fun football film that any sports fan will enjoy - and fair play for ending on a cliffhanger. Becker is a charming lead and Friel pulls of a reasonably genuine Geordie accent. If you want a sports movie with a bit of heart, fluff, action and a bit of glamour, you won't be disappointed. 3.5/5
Sanjaya &

Well... actually I was hoping for a better sequel... But I didn't see it... The story just too standard... They couldn't make a better story than this... But the soundtrack was great... I love every song in this movie... Even the acting of the cast was bad but it was a… More
Well... actually I was hoping for a better sequel... But I didn't see it... The story just too standard... They couldn't make a better story than this... But the soundtrack was great... I love every song in this movie... Even the acting of the cast was bad but it was a pleasure to see a great club like Real Madrid with their stars... Hopes the third movie was the best... Because it's the world cup!!!
Jonny C

A much better story than the original, but still lacked any real belief. Maybe if he had went to decent side like Utd it would've been better.
R?o?d?r?i?g?o? R

It's worse than the first, this is boring and confusing.
Marcus W

Part 2 in which Munez leaves Newcastle and goes to Real Madrid and is swallowed up in the glamour and forgets who he is until he happens to meet his long lost mother living just down the road. The first problem with this film is a lack of plot. What happens off the pitch is boring and… More
Part 2 in which Munez leaves Newcastle and goes to Real Madrid and is swallowed up in the glamour and forgets who he is until he happens to meet his long lost mother living just down the road. The first problem with this film is a lack of plot. What happens off the pitch is boring and tagged on while the other half is Real Madrid trying to win the Champions League - and they do thanks to Beckham who is EVERYWHERE in this film but never speaks. He just smiles or the camera admires his tattoos. Secondly, and considering this is aimed at football fans, apart from a bunch of people in Spain nobody wants to see Real Madrid win the Champions League.