Watch Back of the Net

Back of the Net is a 2019 Australian family comedy film directed by Louise Alston and starring Sofia Wylie, Christopher Kirby, and Melissa Bonne. The movie begins with 14-year-old soccer enthusiast, Cory Bailey (Sofia Wylie), arriving in Sydney, Australia to attend a science summer school. She is a bit of a nerd and has never been interested in sports before, even though her dad (David John Phillips) is a former professional soccer player. She boards a bus to her school and accidentally leaves her phone on the bus. She chases after it, but it's too late. The bus speeds away, and she ends up getting off at the wrong stop.

Now lost in the city, she stumbles upon the National Soccer Academy and mistakenly gets enrolled as a student there. Realizing her mistake, she attempts to leave but is unable to communicate because her phone was lost on the bus. Eventually, she gets stuck at the soccer academy, which is full of talented soccer players from various parts of Australia.

The soccer academy is run by Ms. O’Brien (Melissa Bonne), who is quite strict and discourages the students from pursuing anything other than soccer. Cory is a bit of an oddball and doesn't quite fit in with the other soccer-crazy students. But she soon makes an unlikely group of friends, including Edie (Tiarnie Coupland), a goalkeeper from Brisbane; far-out Zeke (Raj Labade), a striker from the Northern Territory; soccer geek, Morgan (Kate Box); and Dudley (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), the coach of the school's losing soccer team.

Despite her lack of interest in soccer, Cory becomes interested in the school's soccer teams and particularly their losing girl's soccer team. She begins to observe and analyze their playing styles and soon formulates strategies that could help the team improve their game. Over time, she becomes passionate about the team and the game, and also develops an admiration for Ms. O’Brien.

One of the most compelling aspects of this movie is the depiction of the close-knit group of friends Cory makes at the academy. Their friendship is one of the most beautiful parts of the movie. The bond between the characters and their individual stories as they learn and grow together make for an exciting and heartwarming watch.

Sofia Wylie plays Cory Bailey with exceptional charm and has a great onscreen presence. Her character is relatable, and her portrayal of Cory's vulnerability and persistence makes her quite likable. Melissa Bonne, who plays Ms. O'Brien, portrays her character with such intensity that the enigmatic character becomes one of the most intriguing aspects of the movie. Her portrayal of a woman who has her eyes set so firmly on the prize of turning out the best soccer players in Australia that all other things are considered distractions, is remarkably compelling.

The cinematography is visually stunning, taking full advantage of the beautiful Australian landscape. The soccer games are also choreographed beautifully and are incredibly thrilling to watch.

Back of the Net ticks all the boxes of an entertaining family comedy movie. It has heart, a loveable protagonist, a great supporting cast, and a lot of laughs. Despite its light-hearted tone, it delivers some powerful messages about courage, resilience, and the importance of standing up for yourself.

In conclusion, Back of the Net is a must-watch for soccer enthusiasts and their families. It is a perfect choice for a family movie night and will likely leave viewers feeling uplifted with a broader appreciation for the beautiful game of soccer.

Back of the Net is a 2019 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.