Bend It Like Beckham

While cinema history is hardly littered with great movies about football, Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham was more anticipated most. Having already proven herself as an excellent dramatic director (see Bhaji on the Beach and last year's What's Cooking? for evidence), it seemed likely that Chadha could buck the odds and make an engaging movie about the beautiful game. Guess again, for Bend it like Beckham is a tired, staid motion picture that adheres to virtually every clichandeacute; of the coming-of-age genre.

Parminder Nagra plays Jess, an 18-year-old Indian girl who just wants to play football. When Jess is spotted in a local park by Jules (Knightley), she's offered the opportunity of playing for a women's team. Unfortunately, though, Jess' parents are rather strict and don't want their daughter out playing boys games. Hideously predictable and contrived, Bend it like Beckham is a blandly formulaic diversion, boasting little or no real dimension. Chadha's direction lacks pace, bite and sparkle while her actors lack conviction - especially Rhys Meyers and Knightley - when it comes to their performances. Terrible fare.