Bend It Like Beckham

At the urging of a number of other writers on the web who said that anyone with daughters should take them to see this movie, and because it is much cheaper to take the whole family to the movies than to hire a babysitter, and because I insisted they could survive one somewhat more “adult” movie than “Spy Kids 3-D” (too much Joonie, not enough Carmen), we took the kids last night to the Spectrum to see “Bend It Like Beckham.” It’s much in the mold of “Billy Elliott,” teens struggling to do what they want to do in the face of parental and cultural opposition. There was hardly a moment that wasn’t predictable, but you don’t see a movie like this for its surprises. It is set in England, and gives an interesting look into traditional Indian culture transplanted there, but it’s very matter-of-fact in its presentation, not sentimental or fawning. Nice, warm, inspirational film that tells girls they can do what they want to do.