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Bend It Like Beckham (2003)
Released By: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment   Rating: PG-13   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: 9/30/2003
Cast: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Keira Knightley, Parminder K. Nagra, Anupam Kher, Archie Panjabi
Published ID: 527783
UPC: 024543084266, 024543084358, 8716777038598, 4895033728320,
Plot: An independent-minded young woman discovers the joys of football, much to her family's chagrin, in this upbeat British comedy drama. Jess Bhamra (Parminder Nagra) is an 18-year-old growing up in West London, where her family has taken every effort to stay in touch with its Indian heritage. Jess' father and mother (Anupam Kher and Shaheen Khan) are after their daughter to go to law school, learn to cook a traditional Indian dinner, and settle down with a nice Indian boy -- the latter of which is high on the agenda of her older sister Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is soon to wed her longtime beau Teetu (Kulvinder Ghir). However, her family is unaware that Jess has a secret passion -- football (or soccer, as it's known in North America). While Jess' enthusiasm for football star David Beckham is obvious, given the fact his photos cover the walls of her room, her parents don't know that in her spare time she likes to play a friendly game in the park with some of the boys in the neighborhood. One day, while Jess and her pals kick the ball around, she meets Jules (Keira Knightley), who is quite impressed with Jess' skills. Jules plays with a local semi-pro women's football team, the Hounslow Harriers, and she thinks Jess has what it takes to make the team. Jess knows that her parents would never approve of their daughter playing football, so she doesn't tell them, and starts spinning an increasingly complex series of lies as she tries to keep up a double life as a student and a footballer. Jess soon discovers a number of her new friends have their own problems to overcome; Jules dreams of playing pro ball in America, but has to deal with her stubborn and disapproving mother (Juliet Stevenson), while Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), Hounslow's Irish coach, still struggles with the disappointment of a career as a professional athlete which was dashed by a knee injury. Bend It Like Beckham was a significant box-office success in Great Britain and Europe, but didn't reach American theaters until nearly a year after it debuted in the U.K. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Bend It Like Beckham
Added 9/12/2009
Good story I always enjoy watching it. Kara Knightley's career took off after this movie.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
runs well
Added 8/15/2009
the disc has slight defects but when watching on laptop it didnt bother the viewing time
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Those silly brits.
Added 10/12/2008
Bend It Like Backham is a cute and harmless family film. Keira Knightley proudly shows off her rock-hard abs while Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a nice piece of eye candy, hubba hubba! Good sports film but some of the dialogue is pretty laughable, a mixed bag for me so decide for yourself.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Good and bad
Added 9/15/2008
I can understand the good and bad reviews for this movie. It's high-energy fun, a teen flick without too much stupid silliness or any of those contrived "misunderstandings" that are so common in comedies. The teen characters are irresistibly cute, the culture clashes are funny and not overdone, and the soccer scenes are exciting (I wish there were more of them).

But if the messages in this movie about "girl power" and following your dreams are going to be taken half seriously, then there's much to criticize. Most of the Indian girls and boys seem obsessed with sex, shopping, and early marriage. The girls lie to their parents time and time again. And what does it really say about girl power when the main character, Jess, as a beautiful, extremely talented soccer player, can win a sport scholarship to an American university? Are beautiful, extremely talented girls the only ones then who can hope to exercise "girl power"? Jess doesn't have to work hard to acquire her soccer skills. She didn't even play on her high school team! And yet she is better than all the other talented girls who have worked hard for years, been coached, and played on teams. Everything comes so easy for Jess that it's easier to attribute her success to pure luck than to hard work or girl power.

On the other hand, besides being blessed and lucky Jess is sweet and level-headed. The movie is fun; the lessons are questionable.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Great Movie!!!
Added 7/8/2008
I love cross cultural movies and books and this is one of the finest I've seen. The book "Veil of Roses" is also a great example of how two cultures can blend very nicely into one.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Bend It Like Beckham
Added 9/12/2009
Good story I always enjoy watching it. Kara Knightley's career took off after this movie.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
runs well
Added 8/15/2009
the disc has slight defects but when watching on laptop it didnt bother the viewing time
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Those silly brits.
Added 10/12/2008
Bend It Like Backham is a cute and harmless family film. Keira Knightley proudly shows off her rock-hard abs while Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a nice piece of eye candy, hubba hubba! Good sports film but some of the dialogue is pretty laughable, a mixed bag for me so decide for yourself.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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