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Bend It Like Beckham (Widescreen Edition) Customer Reviews (55 - 57 of 60 Reviews)

A bold, beautiful movie
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.

A Feel Good Film About More Than Soccer
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.

"You just can't take no for an answer"
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.

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