Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
The life story of Brazilian football legend, Pele.
A competent and heartfelt sports biopic covering Pelé's rise from poverty to World Cup glory, bolstered by vibrant Brazilian atmosphere and a genuinely inspiring story. The cinematography captures the energy of the matches and the favela setting with some flair, and the young actors playing Pelé are charming. However, the narrative follows the well-worn rags-to-riches sports biopic template quite closely, offering little that distinguishes it structurally from dozens of similar films. The ending, tied to the 1958 World Cup triumph, provides satisfying emotional closure but again is predictable given the known history. A solid, crowd-pleasing entry that delivers on its modest ambitions without breaking new ground.