Our top 3 family-friendly flicks
We all have days when we just need to veg in front of the television and watch a family-safe movie. There are so many baseball, football and karate movies. There are not a lot of soccer movies – am I right?
Here are three of our favorites. All are 8-year-old boy approved! So fire up the popcorn and kick back on the couch for some quality family time.
Believe (PG; 2:31; 2013; cast includes Jack Smith, Brian Cox, Natasha McElhone, Philip Jackson Anne Reid). Georgie Gallagher (Jack Smith) is a misfit 
of a child, age 11. His love of football (soccer) is his remaining connection to his deceased father. Mom Helen (Anne Reid) tries to dissuade Georgie from playing and is working to get him into a private boys’ school. While at the school for an interview, Georgie learns of a tournament and wants to get his team in it, but he needs money. He picks the pocket of Sir Matt Busby (Brian Cox), the Manchester United coach. Busby sees that Georgie is a gifted soccer player. He, along with longtime friend and manager Bob (Philip Jackson) agree to coach and manage the team.
Connor asked to watch Believe at least once a week when he found it on Prime. We liked the realism. The film shows both how gritty and polished a city can be. It was filmed in Manchester and the backstory includes the tragic 1958 Munich plane crash that killed eight United players. The film is set in 1984.
Bend it Like Beckham(PG-13; 1:52; 2002; cast includes Parminder Nagra, 
Keira Knightly, Jonathan Rhys Myers). Jess (Parminder Nagra) find herself bending her devout Sikh parents’ rules so she can play women’s soccer with new friend Jules (Keira Knightley) for coach Joe (Jonathan Rhys Myers). Both girls are attracted to Joe, who won’t date a player. The rule-bending (as well as goal kicks) is funny and plausible.
Connor didn’t like the romantic elements (there’s a wedding) and didn’t understand why Jess’s parents wanted her to not play soccer. There’s a bit of old-school parenting there (girls are to learn to cook and get married, not play soccer). There’s also some estrogen-fueled rom-com style drama.
Air Bud 3: World Pup(G; 1:23; 2000; cast includes Kevin Zegers, Dale Midkiff, 
Brittany Paige Bouck). Josh joins the high school soccer team, along with Air Bud, because he has fallen for foreign-exchange student Emma. Bud falls for Emma’s pup. This introduces viewers to the Buddies – Bud’s puppies. Bad guys are dog-napping area pups and get the puppies. Bud and the kids rescue the puppies (and other dogs) and make it to the field for the final, match-winning play. Air Bud 3 features the U.S. Women’s Soccer team (which is nice).
Connor will still watch this, but says it’s pretty silly. It was much cooler when he was 5.
Connor also suggests:
Underdogs (PG; 1:25; 2013); animated.
Ladybugs (PG-13; 1:30; 1992; cast includes Rodney Dangerfield, Jackee Harry and Jonathan Brandis).