A brilliant sporting film for all the family (Bend It Like Beckham (DVD))

Member Name: Great_reviewer07

Product:	Bend It Like Beckham (DVD)
Date:	15/02/09 (173 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great cast, brilliant story

Disadvantages: There aren't any

Bend It Like Beckham is the British comedy about a girls football team in London. It was released 12th April 2002 & was a huge hit. It had a budget of only £3,507,182. The film became the country's top-grossing British-financed and -distributed film ever. The film is rated 12 & has a running time of approximately 112 minutes.

This film is directed by Gurinder Chadha who's also famous for working on; Bride & Prejudice & Angus Thongs & Perfect Snogging.

The main stars of this film are Parminder Nagra, she is known for being a doctor on ER. Parminder Nagra plays the part of the main character Jess.

Keira Knightley, who's without doubt the most famous member of the cast, she's been in the Pirates Of The Caribbean movies & she's also very famous for being in period movies such as Atonement. Keira Knightley plays Jules.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays sexy football coach Joe. He's famous for being in Match Point & Mission Impossible III.

Shaznay Lewis plays Mel, the caption of the girls football team. She's most famous for being in the 90's girl band All Saints & were the Spice Girls main rivals.

Despite it's name this film isn't about David Beckham & he doesn't feature in it, although he is scattered around the movie in posters, clips & at the end Jess & Jules think they see Posh & Becks at the airport but if you watch the end credits you'll notice it's not him.

Bend It Like Beckham focuses around Jess, an Indian girl living in London with her Mum, Dad & Sister. Her parents hate that she's so into football & they want her to be more feminine, find an Indian husband, settle down & have kids however this isn't what Jess wants. She just wants to be able to play football & dreams of joining a women's team & turning pro. Jess is David Beckham's biggest fan.

Then there's Jules, she plays for the local girls football team that Jess is none the wiser about until Jules spots her playing football in the park where she runs rings around the lads. She tells her that she should come & try out for the team so she does, without telling her parents.

Jess is of course accepted onto the team when she impresses coach Joe. Jess takes a shine to Joe however she's aware that Jules likes him too. The two end up arguing when Joe & Jess almost kiss on a trip abroad with the team.

Jess has to figure out how to play football, keep her parents happy, keep her best friend & get the guy all at the same time!

This is a brilliant British film & one of my all time favourites. I first watched this at school in P.E as we had nothing else to do & I've loved it ever since. It's got a great, unique storyline that you don't see everyday. It manages to tackle numerous issues such as race, sexuality & relationships all in a funny but tasteful manner. I would recommend this film to anybody who likes a good comedy, you don't have to be a football fan to enjoy it because I'm definitely not & I love it!

The DVD has numerous special features such as;
Audio Commentary
Featurette
Behind The Scenes
Ten Deleted Scenes
Music Video
Theatrical Trailer

Bend It Like Beckham is currently available from play.com for only £5.99 which is a great price for such a brilliant film. I'd highly recommend it to anyone, what's great about this film is that it can be enjoyed by the whole family.

The soundtrack is also available from play.com for £11.99 & includes a song by Victoria Beckham (I wonder how that happened?!). The soundtrack also includes;
Titles - Bally Sagoo
Atomic - Blondie
Baddest Ruffest - Backyard Dog
Darshan - B21
It's Beckham's Corner (dialogue)
I Wish - Victoria Beckham
Learn To Cool Dahl (dialogue)
Jind Mahi - Malkit Singh
Tere Bin Nahin Lagda - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Noorie - Bally Sagoo
Juicy Juicy Mangoes (dialogue)
Do Your Thing - Basement Jaxx
Eyes Down! (dialogue)
Inner Smile - Texas
Independence Day - Melanie C
Can't Make Round Chapattis (dialogue)
Punjabiyan Di Shaan - Hans Raj Hans
Kinna Sohna - Gunjan
Nessun Dorma - Tito Beltran
Offside Rule Is, The (dialogue)
Hot Hot Hot - Bina Mistry
Hai Raba! - Bally Sagoo

Summary: If you haven't seen this then you must!