The Story of Penalty Kick
Penalty Kick follows a man consumed by soccer fandom—specifically, the kind of devotion that makes you believe the outcome of a match somehow depends on your presence in the stadium. He's convinced that Mexico will lose a critical World Cup qualifier without him there, willing the team forward through sheer force of personality and superstition. But life doesn't care about your football fantasies. Family obligations are calling, and they're not something you can reschedule or ignore. The film sets up a genuinely relatable tension: the collision between an adult's passionate pursuit and the messy, inconvenient demands of the people who depend on you. It's comedy built on real stakes, even if those stakes are wrapped in humor.
Behind the Making of Penalty Kick
Penalty Kick arrived in 2018 as a co-production between Colombia and Mexico, directed by Rodrigo Triana, a filmmaker known for navigating the intersection of humor and character study. The film clocks in at a brisk 89 minutes, which suggests a lean, focused narrative—no fat, all story. Triana assembled a cast anchored by Adrián Uribe, who brings his considerable comedic timing to the lead role, alongside Carlos-Manuel Vesga, José Sefami, Mary Paz Mata, Julieth Restrepo, Teresa Monroy, and Alicia Sandoval. The ensemble cast structure indicates the filmmakers understood that this wasn't just about one man's obsession—it's about how that obsession ripples through everyone around him. While the film didn't generate major box-office noise or award season buzz, it found its audience in the streaming space, where regional comedies often connect more directly with viewers than traditional theatrical releases allow.
What Makes Penalty Kick Stand Out
Here's the thing about sports comedies: they can either lean entirely on the spectacle and noise of the sport itself, or they can use that passion as a window into character. Penalty Kick chooses the latter. What's striking is how the film doesn't mock its protagonist for caring so much about soccer—that's not the joke. Instead, it asks a more interesting question: what do we owe to the people we love when our personal passion demands everything? Uribe's performance captures that beautiful contradiction of being simultaneously ridiculous and sincere. He's a man who genuinely, deeply believes in something, even if that something is objectively absurd. The supporting cast, particularly in scenes where family members try to make him understand what's actually important, grounds the comedy in something real. You can't care about a character's impossible choice if the people he's choosing between don't feel like actual humans with their own legitimate needs. The film manages that balance without ever feeling preachy or heavy-handed. It's comedy that trusts its audience to recognize the truth beneath the laugh.
Where to Stream Penalty Kick Online
Penalty Kick is available on Netflix, where it sits alongside countless other international comedies vying for your attention. If you're using Movie OTT to track where films are currently streaming, you'll find the exact platform details in the "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page—it's updated in real time as licensing agreements shift. The beauty of Netflix's global reach is that a Colombian-Mexican comedy about a Mexican soccer fan can find viewers anywhere with an internet connection. It's exactly the kind of regional film that thrives on streaming platforms, where geographic boundaries don't matter and algorithms can surface niche content to people who'll actually appreciate it.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Penalty Kick?
Rodrigo Triana directed Penalty Kick, bringing his talent for character-driven comedy to this 2018 Colombian-Mexican co-production. Triana's work tends to focus on how personal obsessions intersect with everyday life.
Q: Where can I watch Penalty Kick?
Penalty Kick is currently streaming on Netflix. You can check the "Where to Watch" widget on this page for the most up-to-date platform availability, as streaming rights shift over time.
Q: How long is Penalty Kick?
The film runs 89 minutes, making it a tight, focused comedy that doesn't overstay its welcome or pad its runtime with unnecessary subplots.
Q: What's the plot of Penalty Kick about?
Penalty Kick centers on a soccer superfan who's convinced Mexico will lose a World Cup qualifier without his presence at the game, forcing him to choose between his obsession and family responsibilities that demand his attention.
Q: Is Penalty Kick based on a true story?
While Penalty Kick isn't based on a specific true story, it captures something genuinely true about sports fandom and the way passion can sometimes blind us to what matters most. That authenticity of emotion is what makes the comedy land.
Final Thoughts on Penalty Kick
If you're looking for a comedy that doesn't require you to check your brain at the door—one that understands both the absurdity and the genuine emotion of caring deeply about something—Penalty Kick deserves a spot in your queue. It's not going to change your life or win major awards (the IMDb score of 4.2/10 suggests critics and audiences were mixed). But it's a solid, character-focused film that respects its audience's intelligence. Perfect for a weekend when you want something that'll make you laugh without demanding your full emotional investment. Stream it on Netflix, and don't expect a masterpiece—expect something honest and funny and human.