Towards the end of last year, the comedian Joe Lycett cracked the shiny veneer of Brand Beckham when he challenged former “gay icon” David to justify his very well-paid gig as an ambassador for Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal and LGBTQ+ people face persecution. The response was tepid at best. You might, then, see the four-part Netflix documentary Beckham as part of a process of smoothing over the lines again. It turns out to be a surprisingly candid look at the life and career of one of the most famous footballers of all time, and it certainly is a rollicking ride.
Beckham, the series, joins a long line of recent sport-based blockbusters that are so entertaining they hold plenty of appeal, whether you’re a Manchester United season ticket holder or more of a Victoria Beckham type (“I wasn’t into football then; I’m not into football now,” she says, plainly). Director Fisher Stevens – who also plays Hugo in Succession, and whom we occasionally hear off-camera asking the questions – has found a rich and vibrant tone here. He follows Beckham around his country house as the man takes great care over mundane, Alan Partridge-esque tasks, such as collecting honey from his beehives or ensuring the kitchen is spotless and exactly to his standards. Beckham seems to respond well to the gentle air of piss-taking, and is self-deprecating in return.
