Rating: 
Summary: "You just can't take no for an answer"
Review: From a distance Juliet and Jess appear to have little in common. But after meeting in a park one afternoon both realize that they share the love of soccer and David Beckham along with career aspirations of turning pro despite their family's wishes. Jess comes from a traditional Indian family who feels that playing soccer is unfeminine and inappropriate for a young Indian girl. Meanwhile, Juliet is resisting her mother's wishes of wearing more feminine clothes and dating boys while fearing her daughter might be a lesbian. Both families fail to take their daughter's dreams seriously. In spite of tensions at home Jess and Juliet form a good friendship while their soccer team is headed to the playoffs. It is only through the perseverance of their hard work and determination that family members relax and come to their senses that enable them to follow their soccer dreams. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is a feel-good movie appropriate for the entire family. While the plot is predictable, it should not deter one from enjoying this film. The action sequences are fun and there are many laughs involved, especially with scenes including Jess's Indian family. Watching this film brings back many memories of when I played soccer as a young girl and it further validates my claim that girl's soccer is important. It is no wonder why this film has maintained such popularity since it was released.
Rating:
Summary: A Feel Good Film About More Than Soccer
Review: I am not a sports fan, and I know very little about most games. Yet a good sports movie can often teach universal lessons about life in a way that can teach fans and non-fans alike. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is outstanding in this regard. The movie tells the story of Jesminder Bhamra, and Indian girl living in England, who is passionate about soccer, and soccer's greatest star David Beckham. She not only loves the sport, she is good at it as well, but her traditional family does not support her endeavors. She plays the game in secret, but then has to confront her parents about her dream. Jes is supported by her friends Julie (Keira Knightly), her coach Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and her close buddy Tony (Ameed Chura), who understands Jes' feelings of not fitting in due to personal issues in his own life. Though the viewer knows that the movie will have a happy ending, the way it evolves is realistic and moving. The movie touches on a wide array of issues including achieving one's dreams, the importance of family ties, self acceptance, prejudice, and falling in love in a way that delivers the message without getting preachy. No doubt the movie will inspire young women who love soccer, but it will move anyone who loves a feel good film.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, but kind of overhyped.
Review: Bend it Like Beckham (Gurinder Chadha, 2002) Bend it Like Beckham, another movie with loads of hype surrounding it, is another entry in the suddenly-popular "immigrants trying to fit in" genre that Americans have been doing these days. And again, it's not a bad little film, but like Thirteen, the end result seems rather a lot of hype for something that didn't really deserve it. Jesminder (ER's Parminder Nagra) wants nothing other than to play football (soccer, for you sport-challenged Americans) like her idol, David Beckham. Her parents think it's time to put away the game and concentrate on school. Unfortunately, just at the same time they decide this, Jess gets invited to play on an all-girls' soccer team. Please her parents or continue to play behind their backs? (The latter, of course, or there wouldn't be a movie.) Along the way, she finds herself possibly getting romantically entangled with her coach, Joe (Titus and b. Monkey showstealer Jonathan Rhys-Myers), which would cause her parents to have a heart attack. Hilarity ensues. It's got a few laughs (rent the DVD, you'll need the subtitles to get some of the jokes), a nice if predictable plotline (which one wag we watched it with kept comparing to the TV show Saved by the Bell), lots of very pretty folks doing very pretty things. All good for a couple of hours' worth of distraction, but nothing to write home about in the "groundbreaking new romantic comedy" department. ***
Rating: 
Summary: A bold, beautiful movie
Review: I really liked this movie. I find its plot refreshing, its performances outstanding and its resolution very satisfying. The storyline combines both traditional movie cliches (girl battles against her conservative family to make it in the modern world) and more unusual features (the customs and traditions that comprise the value system of an Indian Sikh family). Jasminda is the intellectually and athletically gifted daughter of a traditional Indian family who is trying hard to preserve its values in 2003 London. Her older sister Pinky, who also has one foot in both worlds, has become her family's role model for her. Initially rebellious, Pinky has recently entered into a "love engagement" with the cute Indian boy she has been seeing on the side. With her family so preoccupied with her sister's wedding preparations, Jasminda sneaks out on the sly to play with a semi-pro women's team. During this adventure, she encounters the tomboyish Juliet and her drop-dead gorgeous coach. Both of these individuals also have their own family issues-Juliet with her very feminine mother and her coach with his overly motivated father. The movie plays out all these family scenarios. The richest and most rewarding moments come from the Indian family dynamics. This movie lets you peer into an interesting slice of culture-traditional Indians living in 21st century London and trying to balance both worlds. The performances are outstanding. Parminder Negra in the lead role manages a nuanced performance: she wants the world of big time soccer and modern day London but she loves and respects the values of her parents. Keira Knightley as Juliet is astonishing. She is a beautiful girl who could care less about her looks. All she wants to do is lace up her cleats. Juliet Stevenson has her mother is hysterical. Yes, perhaps she is a bit over-the-top, but she gets a laugh every time she shows up in the movie. And the actor who plays the coach manages to balance ethical integrity, athletic passion and drop-dead dreamy male lead in one performance! The DVD has some fun extras. The director's track is entertaining and educational. The "how to cook an Indian meal" is fun. And the deleted scenes are entertaining. I would recommend this movie to lovers of "girl power" movies as well as families who want something fun to watch together. And...it is a great movie for anyone who simply wants to be entertained for a few hours.
Rating:
Summary: There's a reason it's so well-liked
Review: Although the British comedy "Bend It Like Beckham" never found the audiences that could turn it into a hit of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" proportions, I've yet to find a person who saw it who wasn't enchanted by it. Small wonder: Director Gurinder Chadha's film is a winning portrait of post-adolescent life, in which our heroine Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) tries to balance pleasing her tradition-minded Indian family with satisfying her dream of becoming a soccer pro. Although the Bhamras now live in suburban London, Mrs. Bhamra (Shaheen Khan) resists assimilation and tries to steer her daughters away from it as well. But while Jess wants to stay on her parents' good side, she idolizes British footballer David Beckham - if you haven't visited England in the last five years, you will have to take my word that Beckham is a bigger name there than Michael Jordan ever was in the U.S. - and craves the free-wheeling life her friend Jules (Keira Knightley) enjoys. Learning the proper way to cook a full Punjabi dinner (meat and vegetarian, of course) can't compete with the thrill of scoring the winning goal. That's why, even when she's trying to succeed in the kitchen, Jess can't resist bouncing the lettuce and apples up and down on her knees just to keep in shape. A large degree of the success of "Beckham" can be directly attributed to the appeal of the splendid young stars, both of whom have since landed some pretty impressive jobs: Nagra is now a regular on "ER," while Knightley starred in the summer blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and will appear with Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson in the ensemble comedy "Love Actually" in November. But there's no overlooking the warm, good-humored screenplay by Chadha, Guljit Bindra and Paul Mayeda Berges, which refuses to vilify either Jess' mother ("What did I do wrong in my past life?" she wails when she hears about Jess' ambitions) or Jules' mom Paula (expertly played by the wonderful Juliet Stevenson), a would-be fashion plate who wishes Jules would trade in her team uniform for some sleek new clothes that might attract the boys. "Nobody's going to go out with a girl who's got bigger muscles than him," Paula says, dropping a none-too-subtle hint. "Beckham" also includes a terrific performance by Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Joe, the Irish coach who is more than just a mentor to both Jess and Jules, and a rousing soundtrack featuring Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," Texas' trance-dance classic "Inner Smile" and the irresistibly catchy "I Wish," performed by former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham - yes, she's David's wife.
Rating:
Summary: So Many Cultures...So Many Smiles
Review: Like everybody else, I appreciate knowing in advance if a film is poor so I can avoid it; also, I prefer to "discover" an especially enjoyable film rather than hear or read raves about it in advance. This is one of three films I saw for the first time without knowing anything about them, the other two being Good Will Hunting and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Although I consider none a "great" film, I thoroughly enjoyed all three but for different reasons Bend It Like Beckham was directed by Gurinder Chadha and co-stars Parminder K. Nagra (Jess Bhamra) and Keira Knightley (Jules Paxton), with Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Joe), Anupan Kher (Jess's father), and Juliet Stevenson (Jules's mother Paula) cast in important supporting roles. The film examines the struggles of two teenage girls to overcome parental resistance to their playing on the Hounslow Harriers league football (aka soccer) team. Their ultimate goal is to play for a college or university in the United States. Until a career-ending injury, their Harriers coach (Joe) played on a major professional team in England. Both Jess and Jules are attracted to their demanding but caring young coach. I view their feelings for him as being more substantial than teenage infatuation. As is also true of so many other sports movies (e.g. Hoosiers), there is a Big Game to Be Won and, of course, dramatic tension increases as it approaches. Given the fact that her older sister's (Big Fat Indian) wedding is scheduled on the same day, will Jess be allowed to play? Will her friendship with Jules be re-established? With or wirhout Jess, will the Harriers win? If they do, how will that victory affect Joe's career opportunities as a player or coach? Will Jess and/or Jules be offered an athletic scholarship? The acting is consistently outstanding. Chadha brilliantly delineates the traditional values of Jess's family (especially her mother's), some of which differ significantly from those of Jules's family (especially her mother's). Each girl lives in two worlds, both of which compete for her loyalty. Jess and Jules struggle to keep their parents happy while working so hard to help the Harriers win the league championship. As is also true of Good Will Hunting, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Tortilla Soup, there is an abundance of humor in this film. Many moments are hilarious, including the not-to-be-missed final credits. The film is good-natured and warmhearted throughout, even when misunderstandings threaten relationships, notably Jess's friendship with Jules. This film has little (if any) social significance but offers wholesome, delightful entertainment of very high quality. How refreshing!
Rating:
Summary: Bend it Like Beckham
Review: For once girls kick butt. In this film a girl fights to play soccer. It's a fun and entertaining film that invites the viewer to take a closer look into the challenges of being a girl in cleats.
Very similar to My Big Fat Greek Wedding this film plays on the cultural aspects of Indian Sikhs in Britain. Just as in "MBGW" the family's main concern is that the main character gets married someday. In "Bend It" the family is concerned about what a future husband would think if he found out his wife plays soccer.
Jesminder, unlike her older sister, is not a commodified woman. She is completely her own person. She does not care for makeup and dresses. Her parents do not understand why she does not care for these things and why she is so worried about soccer. In a hilarious scene Jess's mother prays for her to forget about soccer and worry about the more important things in life.
This film takes a look at the intersections of race and gender in this character's life. Her teammates do not understand why her parents will not let her play soccer. And Jesminder's parents can not understand why their "girl" daughter wants to play the sport. All of these issues are showed in a way that makes the viewers laugh and at the same time question why should playing soccer be so difficult.
A fun film for any girl to watch whom plays soccer or any sport.
Rating:
Summary: Raves for all this girl-power
Review: Talk about a great girl-power film! It's funny, it's heartwarming, it's inspiring, it's beautifully acted, it's thought-provoking, and it's empowering. At the heart of the movie is Jess, a girl born of Indian parents who live in England. Her wish is to play soccer, at which she excels. Her traditional parents' wish is that she be a proper Indian daughter and marry well. On the side of this conflict is Juliet, a willowy Brit who befriends Jess and facilitates her joining a soccer team under the guidance of a young man who quickly becomes a love interest of both girls. All three principle characters have "issues" with their parents in the push-pull world of growing up.
Pure delight, but it goes much deeper than that. Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely brilliant!!
Review: What brilliant film! I absolutely adored it! Anyone who dismisses this film as a "soccer flick" definitely needs to give it a second look. Despite it's soccer-themed title, "Bend It Like Beckham" is a fabulous and heart-warming story about family, traditions, friendship, love, fulfilling your dreams, and - yes - soccer (or football to non-US audiences). In the center of the story is Jessminder Bhamra (Parminder Nagra), a young Indian girl living in England who desperately wants to be a football (soccer) player. On the one hand, she is incredibly talented, but on the other, she has very traditional parents who believe that Jess should (a) go to university, (b) become a solicitor, and (c) marry a nice Indian boy. But Jess has dreams of her own and when she is approached by Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley) while playing soccer with the boys at a local park, she secretly joins Jules' local all-girls "football" team. Jules and Jess become close friends but conflicts arise when both girls fall for the same boy - their coach Joe (the handsome Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). There are many, many highlights to this film. First of all, it is incredibly entertaining and funny. There are definitely parallels to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" as Jess' family life is thrown into chaos as they plan for her sister Pinky's "big fat Indian wedding" (complete with quirky, colorful relatives and friends). Secondly, it has a very talented cast led by newcomer Parminder Nagra (who is wonderful and earnest as the young woman in conflict between her dreams and her family traditions), the beautiful Keira Knightley (who will soon become a household name once "The Pirates of the Caribbean" opens this summer), handsome heartthrob Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (rumored to be in the running to be the next James Bond), the hilarious Juliet Stevenson (as Jules' prissy mom who is appalled that her daughter would rather play sports than go shopping with her) and Shaheen Khan (as Jess' no-nonsense mom who is equally appalled that her daughter would rather play sports than learn the finer art of Indian cooking). Thirdly, the production values, script and acting are top-notch, bringing to mind similarly quirky, enjoyable coming-of-age and feel-good films like "Muriel's Wedding" and "Princess Diaries." I honestly cannot find fault with this film. I came into the theater without any pre-conceived expectations and came out loving it and wanting to see it again! This movie is definitely on my DVD must-have list. I can't wait to own it so that I can watch it again and again. Anglophiles, soccer fans and anyone who enjoys top-notch romantic comedies must see this movie. It is a film that crosses cultural boundaries and will make you smile and laugh from beginning to end. What a gem!
Rating:
Summary: Girls Rule!!!1
Review: I THINK THIS MOVIE SENDS A GREAT MESSAGE TO YOUNG GIRLS DISPITE WHAT OTHERS HAVE YOU TO BELIEVE. HER PARENTS WERE SIMPLY WRONG FOR NOT ALLOWING HER TO FOLLOW HER PASSION (WHICH IS SOCCER). PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS, CARVE OUT THEIR ON NITCH IN LIFE. AND I THINK THAT WAS THE MESSAGE THE MOVIE WAS SENDING.
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