Bend It Like Beckham

Move over Bridget Jones, the latest Brit flick chicks prefer exercising to eating!

And that's the problem for the heroine of this delightful movie -- she'd rather be a footballer than learn to cook like her mother.

Jess's parents are Indian and despite living in suburban London want their daughter to marry a nice Indian boy.

But Jess, pictured, has the talent to be a professional footballer, and risks her family's wrath to pursue her dream.

When the finals fall on the same afternoon as her sister's wedding, Jess is torn between two matches of the day.

Bend It Like Beckham is pitched as a comedy, but is better described as a drama with a few laughs.

Nevertheless, its entertaining throughout, less biting than East is East but more likeable, with lively performances and a decent script.

David Knights

Ocean's Eleven

With names such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia, this film could not fail to go far wrong.

When Danny Ocean (Clooney) is released from jail he decides to pull off the biggest job in history: a $150 million casino robbery.

With 11 men on the team, Ocean plans every last detail in an intriguing fashion. But as always a woman is behind his motives.

Roberts plays Ocean's ex-wife Tess who is now dating the casino owner.

As to whether the heist is successful and whether Danny manages to win back Tess, you'll have to watch to find out. And it's well worth a watch.

Katrina King

Shallow Hal

The Farelly Brothers, makers of gross-out comedies Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary, come of age.

Shallow Hal is occasionally sick, but mostly sweet, and once it gets going is a laugh-out-loud, romantic comedy.

Jack Black is a man obsessed by women's appearances. He can't keep a relationship because he never looks beneath the surface.

A chance encounter with a self-help guru leaves his perceptions changed dramatically: he cannot see beyond a woman's personality, her inner beauty dictating what he sees.

The result is that 300lb Rosemary appears to Jack as the pencil-thin Gywneth Paltrow.

Jack eventually learns the truth, but true love conquers all, and both we and Jack discover that beauty is deeper than the skin.

David Knights