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Movie poster for Get the Goat (2021)

Get the Goat

2021
1h 37m
Director: Vitor Brandt
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Overview

Bruceuilis, a policeman from the countryside, is assigned to rescue Celestina, a goat considered heritage of his small city, and travels to São Paulo. There, he meets police clerk Trindade, who decides to venture out into the field, even though it is not his specialty.

Cast

12 people

Reviews

4 min read

A Goat, Two Cops, and the Chaos of Good Intentions

I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting much from Get the Goat. A Brazilian action-comedy about a small-town cop and a bureaucratic clerk chasing a stolen goat through São Paulo? The premise sounds like the setup for a joke that writes itself.

But somewhere between the slapstick and the shootouts, the film sneaks in something far more interesting—a messy, warm-hearted fable about incompetence, friendship, and the absurdity of trying to do the right thing in a world that doesn’t make sense.

The story follows Bruceuilis (Edmilson Filho), a cop from the countryside who’s sent to the big city to retrieve Celestina, a goat so culturally significant to his hometown that she’s basically livestock royalty. His partner in this quest is Trindade (Matheus Nachtergaele), a desk-bound police clerk who’s never actually done police work but is suddenly thrust into the field. What follows isn’t so much a plot as a series of escalating disasters, each one more ridiculous than the last.

Think The Hangover meets Beverly Hills Cop, if Eddie Murphy had been replaced by a man who’s never held a gun before.

Two cops in a car, one looking nervous, the other grinning like he's about to make a terrible mistake

Director Vitor Brandt doesn’t waste time on subtlety. The film’s opening minutes establish its tone with all the grace of a clown car crashing into a fireworks factory. There’s a chase scene where the pursuers and pursued are equally bad at running, a shootout that devolves into slapstick when the guns jam, and a moment where our heroes accidentally hijack the wrong car—only to discover it’s full of stolen electronics.

Audience Opinions

Limited evidence
Audience 6.0/10
"A polarizing Brazilian action-comedy with strong performances but uneven execution, leaving audiences divided between its chaotic energy and narrative shortcomings."

Viewers of *Get the Goat* (2021) describe it as a high-energy blend of action and comedy set in Brazil’s criminal underworld, anchored by Edmilson Filho’s charismatic lead performance. The film’s fast-paced, often absurd humor resonated with some audiences, who praised its unapologetic chaos and the chemistry among the cast, particularly Filho and Matheus Nachtergaele. However, others found the plot disjointed, with tonal shifts that veered between slapstick and darker crime elements feeling jarring rather than intentional. Russian audience reactions on Kinopoisk echoed this divide: some appreciated the film’s bold, over-the-top style as a refreshing departure from formulaic comedies, while others criticized its lack of coherence, calling it a series of gags strung together with minimal narrative payoff. The cinematography and action sequences were occasionally highlighted as standout elements, though a few viewers felt even these were undercut by the film’s reliance on exaggerated, almost cartoonish violence. The supporting cast, including Juliano Cazarré and Letícia Lima, received mixed feedback—some found their performances amusing and well-suited to the film’s tone, while others saw them as underutilized or overshadowed by Filho’s screen presence. Overall, *Get the Goat* appears to thrive on its willingness to embrace absurdity, but its success hinges heavily on whether audiences are in the mood for its brand of chaotic, genre-blurring entertainment.

What viewers praise
  • Strong lead performance Edmilson Filho’s charismatic and energetic portrayal of the protagonist was widely praised for carrying the film, with viewers noting his ability to balance humor and intensity even in the movie’s more chaotic moments.
  • High-energy action and humor The film’s fast-paced, over-the-top action sequences and absurd comedy were highlighted as standout elements, with some audiences appreciating its willingness to embrace chaos and avoid taking itself too seriously.
  • Cast chemistry The dynamic between Edmilson Filho and Matheus Nachtergaele, in particular, was frequently mentioned as a strength, with their interactions adding to the film’s entertainment value.
Common complaints
  • Disjointed narrative Many viewers criticized the plot as incoherent or poorly structured, with tonal shifts between comedy and crime elements feeling abrupt and underdeveloped rather than intentional.
  • Uneven pacing and tone The film’s mix of slapstick humor and darker crime themes left some audiences feeling whiplash, with the balance between the two often coming across as jarring rather than complementary.
  • Underutilized supporting cast While some performances were praised, others, including Juliano Cazarré and Letícia Lima, were seen as underdeveloped or overshadowed by Filho’s dominant screen presence, leaving their potential untapped.
Recommended for
Fans of chaotic, genre-blurring action-comedies Viewers who enjoy Brazilian cinema with a bold, unapologetic style Audiences looking for a fast-paced, high-energy film with strong lead performances Those who appreciate absurd humor and over-the-top action sequences

Buzz & Rumors

Public reports

Behind the Scenes of Get the Goat: Brazil’s Wild Buddy-Cop Comedy

Get the Goat (2021), known in Portuguese as Cabras da Peste, is a Brazilian action-comedy that blends chaotic humor with the classic buddy-cop formula. Directed by Vitor Brandt, the film stars Edmilson Filho and Matheus Nachtergaele as an unlikely police duo tasked with tracking down a stolen goat—yes, a goat—in a mission that spirals into absurdity. With a runtime of 97 minutes and a mix of slapstick, crime, and local flavor, the movie has carved out a niche as a cult favorite among fans of offbeat comedies .

The Premise: A Goat Heist Gone Wrong

The plot revolves around two mismatched cops—one a by-the-book officer, the other a loose cannon—who must recover a prized goat stolen from a small town. What starts as a simple assignment quickly devolves into a series of over-the-top misadventures, complete with car chases, bumbling criminals, and a healthy dose of Brazilian irreverence. The film’s original title, Cabras da Peste (literally "Plague Goats"), hints at its chaotic energy, while the English title Get the Goat keeps the focus on the bizarre central MacGuffin [3].

Cast and Chemistry: A Mix of Comedy Veterans and Fresh Faces

The film’s success hinges on the chemistry between its leads. Edmilson Filho, a standout in Brazilian comedy, plays the more disciplined cop, while Matheus Nachtergaele—known for his dramatic roles in films like Central Station—brings a surprising knack for physical comedy. The supporting cast includes Juliano Cazarré (Bacurau) as a menacing antagonist and Letícia Lima as a no-nonsense colleague, rounding out the ensemble with a mix of local talent and familiar faces [3].

One of the film’s strengths is its ability to balance humor with action, a feat that likely required tight choreography and improvisation. While the evidence doesn’t detail specific behind-the-scenes antics, the cast’s prior experience in both comedy and drama suggests a collaborative set where spontaneity was encouraged. Nachtergaele’s pivot from serious roles to this kind of broad humor is particularly noteworthy, proving his versatility [1].

Reception: A Polarizing but Passionate Fanbase

Get the Goat has garnered a mixed but enthusiastic response. On SensCritique, a French review aggregator, the film holds a 4.2/10 rating based on 59 votes—a modest score that belies its cult appeal. The low rating might reflect the movie’s niche humor, which leans heavily on Brazilian cultural references and slapstick gags that don’t always translate universally. However, for audiences in the know, the film’s absurd premise and high-energy execution have made it a repeat watch [3].

YTYouTube·Get the Goat (Cabras da Peste)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L5tdZVH010

The Rotten Tomatoes page for Get the Goat lists the cast but offers no critic or audience scores, leaving its critical reception somewhat opaque. This lack of widespread coverage suggests the film flew under the radar outside Brazil, despite its local popularity. The YouTube trailer, however, hints at the movie’s tone, showcasing rapid-fire jokes, over-the-top action, and the kind of chaotic energy that defines cult comedies [1][2].

Why a Goat? The Absurdity That Works

The choice of a goat as the film’s central plot device isn’t just random—it’s a deliberate nod to Brazilian humor’s love of the ridiculous. In a country where comedy often thrives on absurdity (see: City of God’s dark humor or Elite Squad’s satirical edge), Get the Goat embraces the surreal. The goat isn’t just a prop; it’s a symbol of the film’s refusal to take itself seriously, even as it delivers action and crime tropes.

The director, Vitor Brandt, has kept a low profile, and details about his vision for the film are scarce. However, the final product speaks for itself: a movie that doesn’t aim for prestige but instead prioritizes laughs, stunts, and a sense of fun. Whether it’s the goat’s antics or the cops’ bumbling incompetence, the film’s charm lies in its willingness to be silly [3].

The Verdict: A Hidden Gem for Comedy Fans

Get the Goat won’t appeal to everyone. Its humor is specific, its action is cartoonish, and its plot is secondary to its gags. But for those who enjoy buddy-cop movies with a twist—or simply want to see Matheus Nachtergaele in a role that’s far from his usual dramatic fare—it’s a refreshing, if uneven, ride. The lack of widespread critical coverage means it’s still waiting to be discovered by a broader audience, but its cult following suggests it has staying power [1][3].

If you’re in the mood for a comedy that doesn’t bother with subtlety, Get the Goat delivers. Just don’t expect the goat to make much sense—it’s the chaos that counts.

Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.

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