Rating: 
Summary: Great movie, unpretentious and FUN
Review: Really really enjoyable movie. The characters are real, and (mostly) very likeable. Avoids the trite and the tendentious. Everyone I've talked to really loved this one. Don't miss it!Notes: "Gora", a term often used by the Indians in the movie (including Jess), means "white" (or pale-skinned); it's not however a pejorative term (therefore unlike "whitey" or "honky"). I've seen some reviews referring to the Indian family as being "Hindu" -- actually, they're Sikh, with roots in the Punjab region of India/Pakistan (therefore "Punjabi" is their ethnicity and their language). That's why the dad wears a turban, and also why laughing at it was so offensive to him.
Rating: 
Summary: fun comedy about culture and growing up
Review: This film about a young Indian football/soccer player growing up in London is fun to watch and would be a great selection for family viewing. Jess is not really rebellious -- she just loves to watch football and play football; she is as passionate about playing as her mother is about having her become more traditional. When she joins an organized football club, Jess is amazed at the opportunity to play in "real" stadiums and tournaments, but her parents want her to settle down and get more involved in her sister's impending marriage. I agree with other reviewers, that being cliche-ridden and predictable didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the film. The cast was very good and the wedding scene was quite fun. DVD extras include a 15-minute featurette with the director showing us how to make a traditional Indian dish, Aloo Gobi, the recipe, a making-of featurette, 3 trailers, 10 deleted scenes, a music video and promo spot, and commentary by the director and co-writer. The film can be heard in English or Spanish, and subtitles are available in English, French or Spanish. This is a fun cross-cultural comedy with no surprises.
Rating:
Summary: Predictable and formulaic, but endearing non-theless
Review: I grew up in America, my parents are from India. I'm part of an earlier generation than Jess - i'm nearly 40. My parents are also pretty darned liberal when it comes to a lot of things, so my childhood was anything but 'traditional'. However... there were/are a lot of issues around being raised in a very different culture from which your parents were raised, and this movie touched on this in a way that struck me as endearing. I do feel that it was very predictable, full of cliches and stereotypes, but none of this stopped me from enjoying it.
Rating:
Summary: Lights, camera, EMPOWERMENT!
Review: For girls and women, this is an incredible movie, and for boys and men who like girls and women, maybe even better. Flawless acting by all characters as our heroine strives to reach her potential against the wishes of her very traditional family. Beautiful color, sound, including some great tracks from the 70's: "She's a Lady," and Curtis Mayfield's, "Move on Up," as well as club music and Indian music. Buy it for every teen girl you know, every family you know, and for yourself!
Rating: 
Summary: If you like formula movies...
Review: ...you'll like 'Bend It Like Beckham'. A little "Big Fat Greek Wedding" with expatriate Indians. VERY predictable. It's not giving away a THING to tell you Dad relents at the last moment and daughter scores the winning goal in the big game. Forbidden love interest? Of course!
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF 2003!
Review: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is the consummate 'feel good' movie. This film stars two adorable teenagers, Paraminder Nagra as the British Indian Jess, and her new friend Jules, played by Keira Knightley. Jess' parents are immigrants from India who are trying their hardest to raise their two daughters in the 'old country' way with little success. The one thing that they are adamant about is that Jess will NOT play football (soccer) because it isn't lady-like. Jess' athletic ability is discovered by Jules (whose horrible mother is constantly trying to push her daughter to buy padded bras and more feminine clothing--she also tries to discourage the playing of football) who introduces her to the coach of the women's team. Jules' father encourages his daughter to play and even practices with her. The fun starts when Jess is continually caught sneaking out to practice. This movie is so funny that oftentimes I would have to rewind because my laughing covered up the sound. I loved the gorgeous costumes of the beautiful wedding party. This is a movie to be savored and to watch over and over. I highly recommend it!
Rating:
Summary: THIS IS THE PERFECT MOVIE!!!!!!!!
Review: This is like my favorite movie now, (along with some others) it is so great!!! Parminder K. Nagra rocks!!! She is so great, and Keira Knightley is rally good too. You just HAVE to see this movie. It's about an Indian girl, Jess, who LOVES football (soccer) and is really really really good at it. Her traditional parrents do not waht her to do football, but she joins a girls football team, introduced to it by Juliet, a girl who sees her playing football and ask her to try out for the team. Besides that, her sister is about to get married. This is like a perfect movie!!!! See it!!!
Rating:
Summary: A Crowd-Pleasing Charmer
Review: ***1/2 "Bend It Like Beckham" is a heartwarming charmer about a young girl's search for identity in 21st Century England. Like "Fiddler on the Roof," "Beckham" deals with the painful struggles tradition-bound cultures must go through as they enter a looser, more freedom-loving modern world. The culture in this case is that of immigrant and first-generation Indians living in Great Britain. As with all such tales, it is the young folk who feel the need to pull away from the stuffy values of the past, and who end up dragging the reluctant older folk kicking and screaming into the future right along with them. Jess Bharma is a fairly typical teen with dreams of becoming a world-class soccer player. However, Jess also comes from a very traditional Indian family that believes a girl should not play around with boys, show her legs in public, or aspire to much beyond marrying a good Indian boy and raising a family. We've seen this kind of set-up countless times before and "Bend It Like Beckam" will certainly not win any prizes for creativity or originality. It does, however, have a youthful exuberance and a generous spirit that can't help but captivate even the most diehard, coldhearted cynic. Parminder K. Nagra is utterly winning as young Jess, capturing all the innate optimism and unquenchable enthusiasm of this irrepressible character. She receives superb support from a cast of outstanding actors, both young and old, including Keira Knightley as Jules, her inspirational buddy who provides Jess with the opportunity to bring her dreams to fruition; Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Joe, the handsome young coach who provides lessons in love along with lessons in soccer; Anupam Kher as Jess' father, who turns out to have some of his own personal demons to deal with; Shaheen Khan as Jess' mother, who doesn't understand why her daughter can't be content with the pre-ordained life her parents have laid out for her; and Juliet Stevenson as Jules' mother, who proves that Indians don't hold a patent on tradition-obsessed parents. In its quiet, gentle way, the film also confronts the issue of racism, particularly in terms of how the Indians are often still treated as second-class citizens in British society. As directed by Gurinder Chadha, "Bend It Like Beckham" is a light-on-its-feet "feel-good" film that never takes itself too seriously. The movie suffers a bit from a sitcom mentality, as when, for instance, Jules' parents labor under the illusion that their daughter and Jess are actually lesbian lovers. The plotting, in addition to being predictable at times, often seems contrived and excessively melodramatic (the rivalry between Jess and Jules over Joe being the primary offender). But this isn't enough to do any serious damage to the film as a whole. Thus, if you're looking for a film that is easygoing, uplifting and comfortably old-fashioned in its demeanor and theme, "Bend It Like Beckham" is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Clash of cultures and fine story about going for your dream
Review: David Beckham is a soccer star in Europe. And Jess, the Sikh teenager living in London with her family, keeps a photo of him on her wall. Her parents want her to learn to cook traditional meals and then get married. But Jess, played by Parminder Nagra, is different. She wants to play soccer. Immediately, there is a clash of cultures. And an inspiring story about going for your dream. The British setting is refreshing, the acting is wonderful, and the story is upbeat and full of love. Keira Knightly plays Jess's friend, who introduces her to the girls' soccer team. There's later conflict between them as they both have a crush on the coach, played by Jonathan Rhy's Meyers. But the story is lightweight, all the problems are solved, and in spite of its predictability, there's enough tension to keep it interesting. This is definitely a "feel-good" film, with ethnic clashes reduced to comedy, lovable characters and modern-day details, such as when a cell phone rings and a group of elderly Sikh ladies all pull their cells phones out of their saris. I enjoyed the film and smiled a lot. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I don't remember the last time I saw a movie this well done. It was such a funny and smart movie, I found my self cheering for Jess all the way!!!! The acting and comic timing was superb and I can really relate to this movie, I understand how cultural beliefs can clash with western society (especially when you have to deal with parents!). This is feel-good movie everyone can enjoy!
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