Bend It Like Beckham

Starring: Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Parminder Nagra

RS: 3of 4 Stars

2003 Sports

Teenage Jess (a terrific Parminder K. Nagra) idolizes Brit soccer star David Beckham. She plays amateur soccer in London behind the back of her Indian family and with the help of her tomboy pal Jules (Keira Knightley, a real hottie). Then they both fall for their Irish coach (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). Writer-director Gurinder Chadha juggles all the angles with flair and fairness. Like Nagra and Knightley, the movie is a sweetheart.

PETER TRAVERS
(April 3, 2003)