The feel-good comedy Bend It Like Beckham opened to good numbers in limited release in North America. Gurinder Chadha's film, which has received mixed reviews, is now being shown at six theatres.

But the real test for the movie, which was made at about $5 million and has grossed about $45 million worldwide including $18 million in Britain, will come in the next few weeks as it expands to some 100 theatres.

A big breakout comes on March 28 when it opens in over a dozen cities, including San Francisco, Boston, Washington DC, Minneapolis and Dallas.

Since its Wednesday release, the film has grossed about $182,000 in five days.

Distributor Fox Searchlight says the movie, with its strong $25,286 per theatre average, has the largest opening weekend average of any film released over the last eight weeks. "We are very, very encouraged by this performance and are prepared for a marathon run from the film," said Fox Searchlight distribution president Steve Gilula. 

The PG-13 film, a favourite at film festivals in Toronto and other cities, tells the story of a teenage Indian girl in London who, against many odds, fights for her dream of playing professional soccer.

The Guru, another big hit in England with about $12 million gross, opened strongly in North America in a limited release over a month ago. The film is ending its run with $4 million. It had no appeal beyond the urban centres.

Trade sources think Bend It Like Beckham, a more endearing film, will have better luck at the box-office. One will have to wait and see if it will beat Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, which grossed $14 million in North America. In England though Monsoon Wedding recorded a comparatively low $4 million.

While The New York Times faulted Bend It... for its clichés and predictable ending even as it praised the young performers, several influential publications gave it a better reception.

Time magazine called it 'one of the year's brightest, funniest and most refreshing films' and the Los Angeles Times described it as 'a feel-good movie that actually makes you feel good.' 

Roger Ebert, who fell in love with the film at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, gave it three-and-a-half stars out of four.

In New York, Daily News gave it two stars out of four.

Entertainment Weekly gave the film an A grade, calling it 'the most exhilarating movie so far this year.'