Regardless of what a militant band of Marvel Cinematic Universe supporters would try and have you believe, one misfiring comic book adaptation does not make a bad director overnight, and Taika Waititi boasts a track record of success that’s comparable to any filmmaker of the 21st Century.
If that sounds hyperbolic, then you need only look through his vast filmography across screens both big and small as a writer, director, producer, and occasional actor to see evidence to the contrary piled sky high, but it remains up for debate as to whether or not the long-delayed Next Goal Wins will get him back on track.
Cameras started rolling on the feelgood sports comedy all the way back in late 2019, but the end product won’t be arriving in theaters until November. It did recently hold its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, though, where it’s been greeted with a myriad of critical responses that range from the enthusiastic to the apathetic, although it did at least secure a standing ovation.
There’s a chance Next Goal Wins could become a dark horse contender for awards season glory, regardless of the consensus failing to form into a cohesive positive or negative as of yet. Of course, that isn’t a barometer of success that Waititi appears to be particularly interested in despite having an Academy Award of his own under his belt, with the self-effacing New Zealander making a typically tongue-in-cheek effort to drum up awareness for the project by dubbing himself as a “loser” in the early marketing.
Thor 5 might send shivers down the spine, but a return to his roots might be precisely what the doctor ordered.