RELEASED THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

(UK 12/ROI 12, 125 mins, streaming from March 29 exclusively on Netflix, Drama/Comedy/ Romance). Starring: Micheal Ward, Bill Nighy, Kit Young, Sheyi Cole, Callum Scott Howells, Robin Nazari, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Susan Wokoma.

Veteran football scout Mal (Bill Nighy) persuades Vinny (Micheal Ward) to play as a striker in the England team for the 20th edition of the Homeless World Cup in Rome.

Vinny is currently sleeping in his car, worldly possessions crammed into cardboard boxes in the boot to conceal his current predicament from his young daughter, who lives with his ex-girlfriend.

Vinny is unskilled in the art of collaboration or diplomacy and he bulldozes into the squad.

His self-protective standoffishness creates friction with fellow striker Cal (Kit Young), socially awkward nice guy Jason (Sheyi Cole), recovering drug addict Nathan (Callum Scott Howells), Syrian refugee Aldar (Robin Nazari) and goalkeeper Kevin (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor).

To overcome group favourites South Africa managed by holy sister Protasia (Susan Wokoma), England players will have to find common ground off the pitch.

Based on real-life stories from the Homeless World Cup, The Beautiful Game is a conventional underdog drama, structured to crescendo during the knockout stages of the tournament.

Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce withholds Vinny’s backstory until the film goes into extra time and he scores an own goal when it comes to persuading us to tolerate the character’s selfish actions.

Nighy dusts off a loveable, self-deprecating everyman from the kit bag and Wokoma pilfers the biggest laughs.

Director Thea Sharrock’s picture is heartwarming and wholesome to the point of earnestness, politely kicking about themes of addiction, regret and grief before the action moves inevitably (where an England team is concerned) to the penalty spot.