HE IS getting everywhere! His haircuts spark a media frenzy and his choice of clothes puts him on the front cover of nearly every magazine in Europe.

Now, Mr David Beckham has had a film named after him, and with a title like Bend It Like Beckham, it surely has to be awful!

Jess is desperate to be a footballer but her Indian family forbids it as they say it is unsuitable for a lady. So she joins a football team with her boyfriend Jules.

She instantly becomes a star but when the team's cup final is the same day as her sister's wedding, not only does she have to tackle the opposition, she must tackle her family's wishes too.

I can't see this getting anywhere in America due to the lack of interest in football, but back here it has become a big hit. Director Gurinder Chanda has combined Bollywood with British films well (just like East is East) but has let some lazy flaws slip through.

The film is too light-hearted at times which makes it feel tacky. We have too many unoriginal moments like the "friends falling out and getting back together" moment and the "must prove everyone wrong" idea, which makes it boring at times.

Chanda's portrayal of the Indian family is excellent as she lets you get to know the characters, but her direction in the football scenes could have been better as her choice of lenses makes you feel dizzy and doesn't allow you to appreciate the football skills.

The script has a couple of laughs and the acting from Perminer Nagra and Keira Knightly is first class

Overall, Bend It Like Beckham is a flawed picture, but it can easily please many audiences.