This movie was awesome.
Bend It Like Beckham
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Superb tale of a girl's struggle for her dreams.
Themes in this movie include: family relationships, gender issues, growing up
updated 10.02.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Bend It Like Beckham was written by Nell Minow
Parents need to know there is an implied sexual situation between a couple committed to marrying each other. Homosexuality is discussed. Several of the under 21-year-old characters do have a beer or a glass of wine, however they drink responsibly and are of legal age in the UK/Germany, where the scenes take place. Jess hides her soccer playing from her family and lies to protect her secret.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why Jess feels she cannot talk to her family about her love of sports and how she defends her subterfuge.
- How does her father's cricket experience impact his view of Jess' soccer playing?
- What might be the common bond between Irish Joe and Indian Jess?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Bend It Like Beckham
What’s the Story?
Jess (Parminder K. Nagra) is the obedient daughter of her tradition-minded parents who have mapped her life's flight path from law degree to Indian husband to perfecting her ability to cook 'aloo gobi'. They have also allowed her to develop her natural soccer playing talents by turning a blind eye to her practices in the park with her best friend, Tony (Ameet Chana). When Jess' older sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), prepares to get married, their parents decide that it is time for Jess to settle down. Just as they are telling Jess to curb her sports pursuits, she is offered the opportunity to take her playing to the next level.
Is It Any Good?
Spunky and easy to watch, this feel-good movie bridges the distance between old country and new with the deft touch of a David Beckham penalty kick. For any girl whose athletic endeavors were ever questioned by conservative parents, BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM is a color-drenched fairy tale where you know from the opening credits that the story will end in the "happily ever after" category for our plucky heroine. Yes, this sunny little movie is about second generation Indian families in England striving to maintain traditions that kids, more British than Indian, find increasingly irrelevant. However, no matter what your cultural background, the central theme that you should follow your bliss no matter what the hurdle is universal.
While the story might not seem strikingly original, the color-drenched tones of the movie, the over-lit action scenes and the genuine appeal of the characters, especially Jess, make this film a welcome repast, engaging and entertaining from the first moment to the last. Even if the answers seem a bit pat, it is nice to think that complicated relationships and challenges can be resolved with the proper communications and the ability to make nice, round chappatis.
Movie Details
Studio: Fox Searchlight, Director: Gurinder Chadha
Run time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/12/2003, DVD release: 9/30/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content
Run time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release: 3/12/2003, DVD release: 9/30/2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for language and sexual content
Our Members Say
See all 31 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Really good.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Tons of fun!
I'd be the first to admit that this movie isn't the best, but personally, it's one of my favorites. I love the Indian culture, I love England and I love soccer/football, and the combination of all three makes this a score for me. The movie sets the parameters as a not particularly deep but heartwarming comedy, and sticks to them all the way through. And the acting was surprisingly good. All in all, an offbeat but excellent movie! I'd say that the inappropriate content would probably go over most kids' heads, but that it's more enjoyable if you're 12 or so.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
A great mother/daughter movie - opens the path to communication and discussions
As with many movies of this nature, my daughter and I watched it together. In doing this, we are able to discuss any situation or concept that appears which in-turn opens the lines of communication to what might be otherwise difficult for my daughter to ask. We both loved this movie and felt that the characters were great role models, not only in their emotions and lives, but in their desire to make their families happy, as well as themselves. We still watch it time and again and continue to discuss different ideas and concepts as my daughter grows older and has new questions. We still quote many lines from this movie, that would have otherwise been uncomfortable for my daughter; however, we were able to discuss them and now we joke about them!
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
A must see
This is a great movie that I saw ith my cousin and we loved it!!
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Great 8+ Family Movie
The scene where Jess is drunk, kissing Joe, the coach, is slightly mature, and Pinky and her fiance have an 'extreme kissing' scene. There's also some strong insulting language. And there's some talk about homosexuality. Other than that it's fine. The only fights are verbal arguments about whether or not Jess should play soccer.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Uplifting and engaging
This is a wonderful coming of age movie with interesting cultural aspects. It is well acted and is an excellent choice for young teen girls even if they don't play sports. Cast includes Kira Knightly.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Fun to watch with teen boys and girls
I watched with my neices and nephews, and it was interesting to discuss afterward how young adult life differs by gender, culture and class. This movie provided lots of food for thought, and was lots of fun.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This is a great movie for soccer players and everyone else!
This movie about a girl named Jess who loves soccer. The only problem is, her parents don't want her to! She sneaks out of the house in order to practice with her friend Jewel's team. Unfortunately, Jess's parents find out and Jess is banned from playing soccer! Then after watching Jess suffer, her dad finally lets her play in her big game on her sister's wedding day! She scores the winning goal and then gets an offer to play on the women's soccer team and go to college at Santa Clara. Jess gets really excited and goes to college there with her friend Jewels. To find out more about her adventures, go see this great movie!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
A wonderful, funny and profound movie for everyone.
Good story, feel good movie with subtle points. Should appeal to all ethnic groups. Clever and solid characters.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
This wonderful movie is definitely a goody to watch again and again!
This fantasic movie really makes you want to go out on the soccer field. I think that kids over the age of 7 should be allowed to see this one, but if the kids have any questions about the movie or even if the don't, explain the movie to them so they get it. This movie has a few insults about the Indian culture but it's not so bad. I recommend seeing this movie!
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Fabulous movie for
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
An Indian "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" but with a much richer story
I loved this movie in so many ways! It was funny and playful and yet deep and thought provoking. It was a great Dad and daughter movie - a real departure from the stereotype of the rigid Indian father. It deals with the divided loyalties that 1st generation immigrant kids often face in wanting to be of two worlds - respectful of their cultural heritage but determined to make lives that are uniquely their own and different from their parents. The light touch that the Director uses in dealing with cultural and gender differences is wonderful. I took my 9 year old soccer-loving daughter to see it. I must admit there were moments in the film (kissing scene at a nightclub, a brief groping makeout scene in a car) when I squirmed because it felt a bit too mature for her, but all in all I'm glad we went.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Clever Punjabi comedy set in London
Why are Punjabis so funny? After Monsoon Wedding, here is another wonderful comedy about a girl soccer player who fights heer parents to succeed. Hilarious at times, there are also a lot of pointed jokes at everyone's expense. Highly recommended, though probably for teenagers and not below unless my perceptions are out of line with today's kids.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
a real fun and nice movie, I liked it a lot
It was very funny, and I liked the girls who played soccer a lot. They were good examples.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Good Movie for kids who like soccer!
This movie is appropriate for kids ages 6 and up. It's a great movie about a girl who's determined to be the best soccer player she can be...
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
It was really funny and a great movie!
It was a great movie, and extremely funny. I think that you should be ten to see the movie and get most of the jokes. It' s great laugh out loud, fun movie. I don't think there was one thing I didn't like about it. Anybody would enjoy this!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
This movie was really funny and entertaning.
I thought that "Bend it Like Bekham'" was areally enjyable movie.In this film you never got bored of the story line because there was always something happening. In my case I don't think Jess(the main charecter)was a great roll model because she had a coupel of fights with her mother, but then again no one is perfect. In the movie they use a bit of foul language not in more than one scene though.Other than that I would highly recomend this movie to any one.
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
Great movie!-loved the soccer scenes!
This movie was full of excitement and great soccer. The movie is full of funny moments but still it was PG-13 and had some bad language.
I loved the soccer and thought this was an AWESOME movie!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Great Movie
Nonstop laughs and touching story. I saw this movie when I was 9 and immediatly bought it on video. How come Indian parents are always depicted as controlling and strict people? One of the best parts were when Jess' teammates were trying to figure out how to wear a sari.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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| 100% | of parents say there are good role models |
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