This formulaic biopic of footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović has been a box-office phenomenon in Sweden (where Ibrahimović played for the national team), but it’s hard to imagine that this rags to riches story will connect with audiences that are not already invested in him as a player. Based on a biography by David Lagercrantz, the film shows Zlatan as a hyperactive, disruptive kid, a lank-haired, surly adolescent and the product of a family background that is punctuated by regular visits from the police and social services. It’s an impressive trajectory to sports stardom, admittedly, but it’s just not a particularly compelling viewing experience.
