Considering the box-office success of independent culture-crossing comedy \My Big Fat Greek Wedding,"" it is wholly unsurprising to see British success ""Bend It Like Beckham"" hit U.S. screens. ""Beckham"" was a massive hit in Britain for obvious reasons. While not very innovative or original, the film executes the coming of age formula in a subtle way that most Hollywood comedies lack. Mixing culture, romance and soccer, ""Beckham"" knows how to make you care, despite its predictability.
Jesminder ""Jess"" Bjamra (Parminder Nagra), daughter of two Sikh parents who fled to England, is raised in a traditional Indian family. Despite a traditional upbringing, Jess's dream is to play professional soccer. To her mother's desire for Jess to learn to prepare an Indian meal, Jess replies, ""Anyone can cook, but who can bend a ball like Beckham?"" Throughout the film, Jess' idolization of soccer pro David Beckham accentuates her rebellious teenage nature.
Yet Jess is more than enthusiastic-she's good. A girl named Jules (Keira Knightley) and her father encourage Jess and eventually manage to get her onto an all-girls team. The team, coached by ex-soccer player Joe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), is seen as one more step toward the professional league in America. Her parents disapprove and Jess is forced to sneak around them to keep playing.
The film does a lot of things well without making major mistakes. Throughout the movie, the characters never seem two-dimensional. Despite some jokes, ""Beckham"" holds respect for the Indian culture that Jess fights against. A love triangle also emerges between Joe, Jess and Jules; Jess falls for Joe, Jules has a crush on Joe, Joe is not allowed to date players on the team. While the plot is fairly standard, Knightley and Nagra have a great on-screen chemistry. The two turn in strong performances that drive the film. Rhys Meyers does a solid job as the coach and the parents of each girl provide some of the best scenes of the film.
While not particularly important or cinematically revolutionary, ""Beckham"" is another nice spin on the youthful ethnic comedy. Most mainstream films are completely inept at making a feel-good movie that never strays into ridiculous cliche. ""Beckham"" stays the course, making it easy to cheer for Jess and Jules. Justice will see ""Bend It Like Beckham"" finding a warm reception.
