Movie review – “Bend It Lie Beckham” (2002) ***1/2

One of the most sheerly likeable films of the decade, made with an infectious good nature that’s hard to beat. The two female leads are very sweet – Keira Knightly is inexperienced and a bit wonky but already has charisma. (I do remember one person who saw the film saying “what was that supermodel doing in the film?”) Jonathan Rhys Meyers has a role perfected suited to his talents, the non threatening leading man. (At the end he doesn’t get with the girl but plays cricket with her dad while she goes off with her best friend – is this a first generation immigrant girl’s fantasy?). I remember watching this scene in the cinema and when Rhy Meyers appeared in a coloured shirt there were these guttural grunts of appreciation from females around me. Bright music and colours. The script is a bit undeveloped here and there with probably a few too many subplots based on people being gay and an over-rushed finale but you’re having such a good time watching it that it hardly matters. Love the extraneous detour to Germany.