Jesminder Bhamra (Nagra), known to all as ‘Jess’ is 18, preparing for University and is mad on football. Problem is her parents are Sikhs who now want her to behave a little more ladylike.

She is seen playing football in the park by Jules (Knightley) who encourages her to try for the local women’s team. Jess and Jules become friends and star players bringing the team ever greater success under coach Joe (Rhys-Meyers) until Jesminder’s parents find out their daughter has been playing football! In shorts! Add in a wedding and a love triangle till it all builds to an inevitable clash. Jess must choose: attend her sisters wedding or play in the final.

This is just a delight of film from director Gurinder Chadha, on the top it appears predictable and light but underneath superbly portrays the cultural difficulties for a child from an immigrant family. The acting is quality given the freshness of the main cast (Knightley before her hot! hot! status) with Bollywood heavyweight Anupam Kher giving an excellent portrayal of a father struggling between his own past rejections and desire to protect his daughter Jess with his wish for her to succeed in her dreams. Along with top music and some very, very funny moments this is a film to just enjoy.

And needless to say it all ends (for once) happy ever after. I like films like that.