History YMMV / BendItLikeBeckham

* ValuesDissonance: The LoveTriangle prominent through the second act is between two teenage girls, still in school, 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.

* ValuesDissonance: The LoveTriangle prominent through the second act is between two teenage girls, still in school, 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 or 19 would be more concerning.

** Archie Panjabi had one of her first roles here as Pinky, later starring in ''Series/TheGoodWife'' and ''Series/TheFall''.

* 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 late 20th century 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.

* 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 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 late 20th century 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.

* 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. 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 late 20th century 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.

* 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. 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 late 20th century 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.

* ValuesDissonance: The LoveTriangle prominent through the second act is between two teenage girls, still in school, 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 at ''most'' would be more concerning.

* 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 George Michael", suggesting at least some of her reaction comes from worry for her daughter.

* 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.

* 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. 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 early 2000s 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.

* FanPreferredCouple: Jess and Jules are such a popular ship that it led to rumors about this being [[HideYourLesbians the original plan in the script]] (''WesternAnimation/AsToldByGinger'' enjoyed a similar bit of {{Fanon}} thanks to the popularity of the Courtney/Ginger ship). Even Creator/KeiraKnightley gave her approval, saying she'd do a sequel where Jules and Jess become a couple.

** And of course, Creator/JonathanRhysMeyers would later have an international breakthrough as Henry VIII in ''Series/TheTudors''.* 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.

** And of course, Creator/JonathanRhysMeyers would later have an international breakthrough as Henry VIII in ''Series/TheTudors''.
* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: If you live your life trying to please your parents, you'll only make yourself miserable. At the same time, lying and repeatedly hiding your true life from your family won't make things any better. It's best to be honest about your intentions in the hopes that - even if they're met with disapproval at first - they could eventually be accepted.
* 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.

** And of course, Jonathan Rhys Meyers would later have an international breakthrough as Henry VIII in ''Series/TheTudors''.

* StrangledByTheRedString: Neither Jess nor Jules have serious chemistry with Joe (it's ''much'' stronger [[LesYay between the two of them]], in fact), and their LoveTriangle with him is particularly awkward and unconvincing.
* 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.

** 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.

* StrangledByTheRedString: Neither Jess nor Jules have serious chemistry with Joe (it's ''much'' stronger [[LesYay between the two of them]], in fact), and their LoveTriangle with him is particularly awkward and unconvincing.

* FairForItsDay: Even though the movie doesn't deal too much with gay issues, it still has Tony coming out and being accepted immediately by Jess - and Jules calling her mother out for her homophobia (stating that if she were a lesbian, there would be nothing wrong with it). For 2002, that's surprisingly tolerant.

** In the second half of the 2000s, the English women's national team took an enormous step forward, qualifying for the World Cup again 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 Euro 2009 squad. 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.