Line #8 YMMV/BendItLikeBeckham


1	* AlternateAesopInterpretation: Another way to look at Jess's Aesop regarding her parents is that it's possible they think football is just a silly hobby there's no point in her wasting time on (she does say once she starts university, she'll be too busy with her studies to train as well) - but her father changes his mind once he sees her playing, and learns that she's got a shot at playing competitively. The lesson here could be that if you're pursuing something your parents might not approve of, do your best to show that a) you're serious about it, b) you have a plan to realistically have success in it and c) use the above to convince the doubters.
2	* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: You could be more charitable and interpret Jules's mother's apparent homophobia as assuming her daughter had been lying about being in a relationship that appeared to have ended poorly, and merely wanting Jules to be honest with her. Of course that could be shot out the window with how pleased she is when Jules claims she's straight. She also refers to "the way they treated Music/GeorgeMichael", suggesting at least some of her reaction comes from worry for her daughter.
3	* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Several of Pinky's wedding guests start brawling with the cameraman for no stated reason. The wedding guests fighting the cameraman are noticeably the same guests who were making out in the bathroom. Indian tradition looks down upon such public displays of affection, which the camera could have caught on-tape. Still, it is rather jarring.
4	* FanPreferredCouple: Jess and Jules are such a popular ship that it led to rumors about this being [[HideYourLesbians the original plan in the script]] and are easily more popular than the canon Jess/Joe. Even Creator/KeiraKnightley gave her approval, saying she'd do a sequel where Jules and Jess become a couple.
5	* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: The movie became the first western film ever aired on North Korean TV (albeit with edits), so don't be surprised if it develops a disproportionately large North Korean fanbase in the years to come.
6	* HarsherInHindsight: Jess' dad speaking about how he was bullied out of playing cricket in England for being Indian/Sikh hits especially hard in light of the reports of deep-rooted racism that still exists in English cricket, years after the movie was made.
7	* HilariousInHindsight:
8	** In the second half of the 2000s, the English women's national team took an enormous step forward, qualifying for the 2007 World Cup after two misses and coming 2nd in the 2009 Euros (to Germany, naturally). If the movie was set in 2002, the same year it was released, Jules and Jess would have graduated from Santa Clara University in 2006, likely joined top clubs and been selected for England soon after, and quite likely been in the 2007 and 2009 tournament squads. By 2015 -- when Jess and Jules would have been aged 31 and possibly senior pros and established England regulars -- England made it to third place in the World Cup.
9	** The film ends with Jess's dad teaching her Irish boyfriend how to play cricket. In 2009, an Irishman, Eoin Morgan, was picked for the England cricket team. He later became their captain in the one-day version of the game and led them to victory in the 2019 World Cup.
10	** Jess's family initially believe an Indian woman will never be able to play football professionally. Bala Devi became the first Indian female professional footballer in 2020, when she signed for Glasgow Rangers Women.
11	** Jules's mother insinuates that Sporty Spice is "the only one without a fella", meaning she has to be a lesbian (and Melanie C contributes two songs to the soundtrack). It would actually be Scary Spice who later had a relationship with another woman. And she would later claim to have had a one night with another Spice Girl - and not Mel C. [[spoiler: It was Geri]].
12	* LesYay: ''A lot'' between Jess and Jules. To the point where their families think they actually ''are'' lesbians. They were ([[PopCultureUrbanLegends supposedly]]) originally intended to be.
13	* LoveToHate: Jules's mother is pretty much abusive (and hypocritically homophobic - only praising lesbians once she's delighted her daughter isn't one) but Juliet Stevenson is hysterical and makes her one of the funniest characters in the movie.
14	* {{Narm}}:
15	** "No, I REALLY like David Beckham," - Tony, when coming out to Jess. Less narm-ish and more heartbreaking when you consider that it is entirely possible he can't find any other way to tell her.
16	** The laughter between Jules and Jess at the crossroads is very awkwardly blocked, almost specifically so that they can be mistaken for kissing.
17	* OutOfTheGhetto: A film about women's football? With an Indian protagonist? Carrying some LGBT themes as well? $104 million worldwide gross, and one of the highest grossing films about association football in the US.
18	* RetroactiveRecognition:
19	** Parminder Nagra might be better known to fans of ''{{Series/ER}}'' and ''Series/AgentsOfShield''.
20	** Archie Panjabi had one of her first roles here as Pinky, later starring in ''Series/TheGoodWife'' and ''Series/TheFall2013''.
21	** And of course, Creator/JonathanRhysMeyers would later have an international breakthrough as Henry VIII in ''Series/TheTudors''.
22	* StrangledByTheRedString: Neither Jess nor Jules have serious chemistry with Joe (it's ''much'' stronger between the two of them, in fact), and their LoveTriangle with him is particularly awkward and unconvincing.
23	* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: Obviously set during the 2000s when David Beckham was at his absolute peak as a football player, and the climax at the airport captures the 2000s media frenzy surrounding 'Posh and Bex' as a power couple. The plot of the movie also revolves around Jess and Jules hoping to play for the Women's United Soccer Association in America - who suspended operations in 2003. They hope to play in the US because women's football in England is all amateur; in 2011 a professional women's league was launched in England, and today the league attracts star players from all over the world. Jules's mother also buys into the then-rumors that Melanie C was a lesbian because of her tomboyish looks. In fact, Jules's mother's attitude towards her daughter possibly being a lesbian is very rooted in 1970s/1980s attitudes towards homosexuality. Were the movie made in TheNewTens, her attitude would be seen as even more ridiculous and possibly even abusive as opposed to her being clueless and embarrassing but harmless in the final film.
24	* ValuesDissonance: The LoveTriangle prominent through the second act is between two 18-year-old girls and their older male coach. While Jules is portrayed as having a PrecociousCrush that was never reciprocated, the feelings are reciprocated with Jess, who is the same age as Jules. The movie addresses the fact it's an UnequalPairing because he's her coach; in TheNewTens, the fact that he's implied to be at least in his mid-20's and she is 18 would be more concerning.
25	* TheWoobie: Tony really, if you consider the fact that he's a closeted gay teenager among a community who most certainly wouldn't approve (Jess is surprised that an Indian can be gay at all). Even by the end, he still hasn't come out to his family.

Context YMMV / BendItLikeBeckham