Wimbledon Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
She's the golden girl. He's the longshot. It's a match made in...
In just two summer weeks, a British tennis player who was ranked 119th in the world (Bettany), and generally considered to be on his last legs as a professional player, gets his one last chance to win both the All-England Lawn Tennis Championships on the grassy courts of Wimbledon... and the heart of the rising star "bad girl of tennis" (Dunst) as well...
| Kirsten Dunst | Lizzie Bradbury |
| Paul Bettany | Peter Colt |
| Kyle Hyde | Monte Carlo Opponent |
| Robert Lindsay | Ian Frazier |
| Celia Imrie | Mrs. Kenwood |
| Penny Ryder | Mrs. Littlejohn |
| Annabel Leventon | Mrs. Rossdale |
| Amanda Walker | Country Club Tennis Lady |
| James McAvoy | Carl Colt |
| Bernard Hill | Edward Colt |
| Eleanor Bron | Augusta Colt |
| Marina Morgan | Hotel Receptionist |
| Barry Jackson | Danny Oldham |
| Nikolaj Coster-Waldau | Dieter Prohl |
| Sam Neill | Dennis Bradbury |
| Richard Loncraine |
6.40 out of 10 (10532 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Love, Centre Court & Everything
posted on 23 Aug 2009Paul Bettany's rangy, startling looks make him difficult to pigeonhole into any one sort of role. He's mostly known for period pieces and unsettling baddie parts. So it's refreshing to see him as the romantic lead in this frothy confection set in the high echelons of pro tennis. His Peter Colt, a fading player facing down his 30s reflects with much interior angst on the impending demise of his disappointing professional tennis career, in which the high point was once briefly being ranked 11th in the world. Having unexpectedly won a wild-card slot at Wimbledon, he's resigned to losing in the first round and announcing his retirement, upon which he will be forced to coach randy country club cougars for a living. But then, in a Meet Cute that could only happen in this kind of movie, he encounters rising American tennis sensation Lizzie Bradbury (think McEnroe in a skirt), and an unlikely romance ensues. What starts as a carnal fling over fish and chips develops into something deeper; even more surprising, Peter keeps winning his matches, astounding himself even more than the whole of England. Is Lizzie his soul mate--or a human good luck charm? Or both? Bettany effortlessly slips on the mantle of self-deprecating charmer unaware of his own appeal from Hugh Grant, but with a good deal less bumbling than Hugh Grant used to do. He is, after all, supposed to be an elite athlete, and he looks the part of a professional tennis player quite convincingly. He towers over his petite, considerably younger co-star, who is over-matched in both the tennis and acting departments, but these two sell their quirky blond pairing, and it works. What sets this project a cut above other attempts at `sporty romances' (think `Cutting Edge') is its air of authenticity: shot on location at Wimbledon and stuffed with real tennis talent, you can't fake this kind of detail. Is it realistic to think that a player languishing at 119th could win a berth in the men's final at Wimbledon, AND find true love on the grass courts with a brash Yankee gal he's known for all of 2 weeks? No on both counts--but that's precisely why we watch these movies, because in the rom-com universe, these kinds of happy accidents are the norm, and we can imagine they could happen to us. By film's end, Bettany has convinced us that they couldn't have happened to a more deserving bloke. From the producers of "Notting Hill" and the Bridget Jones movies, this one also boasts their hallmark bubbly score and views of a cheerful, affluent London where the sun actually shines more than it rains. While you're waiting for Roger Federer to have his next crack at the Wimbledon title, let Bettany & Co. entertain you--and have some cucumber sandwiches while you're at it.
Paul Bettany is completely adorable.
posted on 17 Aug 2009I went to see "Wimbledon" this weekend primarily to marvel at Paul Bettany. And in that regard, it didn't disappoint me at all. Tanned and lean, Bettany's never looked better onscreen, and his performance exuded the same amount of charm that I've come to appreciate from him in films ranging from "A Knight's Tale" to "Master and Commander."
"Wimbledon," quite rightly, belongs to him, and, if it garners enough attention, I hope that Bettany will continue to find work in more lead roles.
As Peter Colt, a past-his-prime never-was tennis pro, Bettany's self-deprecating take on the role immediately wins the audience over, for we identify with him as he falls into what he thinks is an extraordinary string of good luck.
Upon arriving at Wimbledon to play a wild-card slot, Peter meets top-ranked player Lizzie, played by Kirsten Dunst in a fine performance that's not one of her most distinguished. Lizzie immediately calls upon Peter to start up an affair, to "experiment" how it might affect their games, and Peter, of course, is more than happy to oblige the beautiful girl.
But there's something about her belief in him, her attraction to him that leads him to start seeing himself in a different light, and the film is more about Peter's redemption as a winner than it is about Peter and Lizzie's love affair.
Dunst, had the movie been a bit more equal, might've gotten the opportunity to make her character into more of an individual. Bettany, of course, comes off as amusing, incredibly handsome and completely adorable. I mean, you just want to put Peter Colt in your pocket, he's so cute.
The supporting roles are pretty by-the-book. Sam Neill barely registers as Lizzie's domineering father. And that curly-haired kid from "The Day After Tomorrow" plays the top-ranked male player in the tournament, who comes off as a complete wanker.
All in all, the movie's fluff with Bettany being the only real thing of substance in it. Luckily, he's the reason I bought the ticket.
harmless piece of romantic fluff
posted on 11 Aug 2009"Wimbledon" is a charming love-conquers-all romantic comedy set in the highly competitive world of professional tennis.Peter Colt is an aging player who has slipped to 119 in the world rankings; it is for this reason that he plans to hang up his racket after what he believes will be his swan song appearance at Wimbledon. What he isn't counting on is that he will meet and fall in love with a beautiful and sexy up-and-coming player named Lizzie Bradbury, a turn of events which seems to be having a very positive effect on his game. Soon, he's racking up surprise, come-from-behind wins in the tournament, becoming a major focus of attention for appreciative fans all over Great Britain. The problem is that, as Peter's game improves as a result of the romance, Lizzie's seems to be getting worse, a fact which threatens to put a serious strain on the young couple's burgeoning relationship.Although the story itself is rather innocuous and silly, Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst do achieve a genuine rapport on screen. It's also nice to have a protagonist in a romantic comedy who is not exactly in his physical prime and who is facing some of the rigors of advancing age (he's all of 30, practically his dotage when it comes to professional tennis!). Moreover, the setting is novel and there is just enough of that brittle British humor in the screenplay to keep the film from feeling puerile and canned. It's true that Lizzie seems to be an entirely different person off the court than she is on, but that is just one of those inconsistencies we tend to expect from a movie in which credibility isn't necessarily a prime factor in determining our overall enjoyment of it. And director Richard Loncraine manages to generate some genuine suspense in the final showdown between Peter and the odds-on favorite he isn't expected to beat."Wimbledon" is pure Cinderella romantic fantasy crossed with a David and Goliath, underdog-takes-on-the-reigning-champ sports story. If either of those genres appeals to you - or, even better, if both do - you should have a fun time at "Wimbledon."
Cool! The Ultimate Tennis Movie
posted on 01 Aug 2009I've been waiting a long time for an actual tennis movie, and finally here it is and it does not disappoint. Normally I don't feel compelled to comment on the opening credits, but the sequence is so brilliant I have to. As you hear a ball being whacked back and forth, the credits start appearing to the far left of the screen, then the far right, back and forth. Suddenly you realize everyone in the theater is craning their heads back and forth. The film makers have just gotten everyone acting like a tennis crowd. You know right away the film was made by someone who actually watches tennis.The film has a fair amount of amusing comedy, such as how no one except for Peter Colt can seem to remember that Peter Colt was once ranked 11th. He's moderately wealthy and he's never been hungry, but at 31 he is starting to become a little too old for tennis so he decides it's time to hang up the racket after Wimbledon.The film does a great job of showing the various types of tennis games pro's go through. There's the experienced player versus the rookie. There's the friend versus friend match. There's the game where everyone is cheering for the other guy. And finally, there's the game where you play your worst enemy.By the end of the film, you will understand why tennis winners usually fall down on the grass and start weeping after they win the title. I have one question though - why the @*%& did they use a rap song at the end of this film?
I loved this movie.. you're not the only one
posted on 01 Aug 2009Well this movie has been my favorite since i first saw it, in the fall of 2005.(a little late but what to do i live in Nepal) Alright it has some mistakes and its a little obvious that the players aren't really playing tennis. but come on! the plot is really sweet and Kirsten Dunst is really good. so is Paul Bettany. his accent is superb. for all of you who think that this movie sucked, i feel sorry for you because you obviously can't see that its really great! The actors make this story really great! i mean seriously the quotes from the movie, the makeup and costumes are also really good. They LOOK like pro tennis players. and isn't that the aim of all actors-- to look like their characters? and on top of that the soundtrack of this movie is excellent. seriously if you voted "against this movie" watch it again with a more positive attitude and i can guarantee you'll like it (at least) a little more.PS: i love Deiter Prohl. he's really good! :D
Beyond Bad, Putrid
posted on 28 Jun 2009Why would Paul Bettney's character,who is 31 years old, be afraid of the father?
The whole movie is one big cliche. A script that could have been written by a monkey. Line such as:
"Your turning my first serve into mush"
Dunst and Bettenry drive at high speeds in a convertable for hours and there hair doens't move AT ALL?
Just bad, so bad.
What also was wierd was that I sensed some homosexual overtones in the movie. A shot of Betteny's ass that doens't make sense.
And then a scene in which Betteny is in the suana with his playing patner, another guy, and I thought they were about to kiss: very strange.
Stay away, far, far, away.
Another waste of time rom-com
posted on 28 Jun 2009"From the makers of Notting Hill Four Weddings" comes the tag line strapped onto the trailers for this film, but in all honesty, who is that? Maybe the producers? Last time I checked it was not producers that made a film good.And this is evident here. Richard Curtis, the real creator of aforementioned rom-coms is nowhere to be seen and we are left with a director and two stars who are self proclaimed to have never played or followed tennis before making this movie. I really feel for Pat Cash that had to act as technical expert on this picture.Frankly, I won't go into the story as its as dry and lifeless as any other waste of time romantic comedy. The writing is witless and the storyline predictable and characters moronic with no depth at all (save a few fleeting moments from the brilliant Bernard Hill). Being a tennis fan though I wanted to watch this as we are not treated to many films centered on our sport. Luckily, the action on court was well produced (thanking the producers? Ahem) and the film boasted some nice visual effects. It was not plainly obvious that every tennis ball hit was CG. To any tennis fan or fan of Wimbledon it was obvious that the directors and stars of the movie were not tennis fans. Many glaring inconsistencies with Wimbledon... but I guess this could be overlooked as the film is just a romantic comedy. Clearly written for an American audience (American TV station on a UK TV? Come on...) at least we managed to get the film set in Wimbledon rather than the US Open. There is little good to say about any of the actors save Hill, although Bettany does a good job holding his first leading role. No good writing to work with and an even worse co-star (its like she isn't even trying anymore - just another pay cheque until the next Spider-Man film?) but he is convincing for his part. There were some nice allusions to Hen-Mania which was good and I liked having David Mercer on the commentary early on. It's a shame McEnroe's wooden performance took over later - but again, obviously written for an American audience (I love you really Mac!).Overall if you are a tennis fan then its probably worth watching for the nice oncourt action. If you are a fan of romantic comedies then you can find better out there. Don't expect the film to hold up to the "Bridget Jones/Notting Hill/Four Weddings" mantle that the advertisers would have you believe and you may waste a couple of hours while waiting for something better. It's light, its... fun, and its predictable. Not great, pretty bad, but there is worse out there.
Or perhaps we should call it "Love all, Actually"
posted on 18 Jun 2009A lot of people seem to be getting bent out of shape about the number of errors in this film (mostly tennis related despite the presence of Pat Cash as a technical adviser). Why? This is Wimbledon the movie, not Wimbledon the documentary. All I care about is if this film succeeds as entertainment and on that basis, it most assuredly does.Yes, there are mistakes if you want to look for them (for instance, the lead character drives down the Mall to Trafalgar Square in order to get to the Dorchester in Park Lane, which is in the opposite direction and completely the wrong route to take unless you are going by cab, but conveniently allows the filmmakers to feature Buckingham Palace and Nelson's Column to make sure everybody (i.e. Americans) know we are in London). But since the story centres on a British player winning the men's singles final, this is hardly based in the realm of reality anyway and therefore any further criticism over accuracy is pointless. As it is, to this non-tennis-playing viewer, the tennis scenes seem convincing enough and since the majority of the story is set off-court, I think the film's producers made the right decision in casting actors in the lead roles rather than tennis players.Paul Bettany adds yet another fine performance to his list of credits (which include a great turn as Geoffrey Chaucer in Brian Helgeland's gloriously anachronistic "A Knight's Tale", "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World", "A Beautiful Mind" and "Gangster No. 1") and Kirsten Dunst is equally up to the task, despite having the harder job as her role is somewhat underwritten and gives her less to work with. Her top billing is for marketing reasons as Bettany's character, Peter Colt, is the main character in this film, not hers but Dunst's name is bigger at the box-office, especially after the "Spider-man" films. Still, the two manage to make their characters likable enough for you to care about them and to want them to win through at the end (plus any film in which Kirsten Dunst's first scene sees her emerging from the shower gets my vote). There are also good supporting performances from Sam Neill, Bernard Hill, Eleanor Bron and James McAvoy which help.Behind the camera, Richard Loncraine provides some stylish directorial flourishes and thanks to the extremely talented cinematographer Darius Khondji, both London and Brighton have never looked lovelier.This film is the latest from Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner's Working Title company and adheres closely to the formula which has worked well for them in the past in such films as "Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Notting Hill", "Bridget Jones' Diary" and "Love Actually" and as such should be another smash hit for them which should help make up for the disappointing performance of the much (and unfairly) maligned "Thunderbirds".
Wimbledon: A love story for all ages.
posted on 16 Jun 2009This story is a classic and fit for anybody. Acting is great and it is truly a heart warming story. Additional features are great including the making of Wimbledon and the story about how the Wimbledon tournament is produced. Good even for those of us out there who are "into" sports.
Fun. Entertaining. You'll like it!
posted on 12 Jun 2009An unexpected delight. It's the Rocky of tennis, with a twist.In Rocky, Trainer Mickey advises love-struck Rocky with 'Women weaken legs!'Wimbleton's wisdom - 28 years after Rocky I - is that 'Boy get strong - does well - showing off for girl'. Either way, it's fun to watch and a good inside look at the ways and means of Wimbleton.Hey Spiderman: Watch out! Kirstin Dunst and Paul Bettany are a hot item here. Their chemistry works. Jon Favreau plays a completely believable whored-up agent with a strong "despicability quotient". James McAvoy (new to my movie going experience) is the younger brother of Paul Bettany. He delivers convincing sibling rivalry to a dysfunctional-anyway Colt-household. Everyone else in the cast is fodder for those big 4. They're all good. No one is hogging lines or camera time. It works. It entertains. Not too much thinking is involved, making it a good date film.7 out of 10. Would be more if they broke new ground. Maybe next time.
A enjoyable romantic comedy
posted on 10 Jun 2009I am not a fan of tennis, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film and the background. Kirsten Dunst plays a rising tennis star. Paul Bettany is playing a pro that was once ranked number eleven on the tennis circuit and has fallen to 119th at the beginning of the movie. Paul's character has given up on his professional tennis career but has drawn the wild card spot at Wimbledon.
Our two stars have great chemistry on film and it flows through to the characters. And of course Wimbledon is a co-star of this film. Besides the romantic comedy this movie is supposed to be, it also does a wonderful job of showing the inner workings of Pro Tennis. The tennis through out this movie looks real. The director has succeeded in making the actors look like great players. And the stress and determination it takes to play the game at this level.
This movie is actually two movies combined into one. A tennis film and a witty romantic comedy that is about chasing your dreams. And shows that if you are going to try and succeed at something, in order to do your best you must do so with all your heart. It is worth watching.
Convential romantic comedy with tennis
posted on 02 Jun 2009You guess the ending after the first few minutes of the film which makes you think - am I bothered to find out which of the standard plot ploys will be used and in which order? The tennis scenes are poorly done, such as portraying a mens semi-finals not using the Centre Court! Neither of the leads is credible as a tennis pro, they just don't have the physique or technique to make you think they could hit a powerful serve or move across a court as modern tennis stars can.The acting of Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst is adequate but nothing challenging is required of them.See it if you have nothing better to do.
Strawberries & Cream
posted on 31 May 2009You might think the English "Club" characters in this movie are over-done, a joke. I can tell you, they are not.I've been going to the Wimbledon tournament since 1963 and I've played there three times, though never in the Open Championship nor on the Show Coursts.This movie is light, funny, warming and charms one without sentimentality. If you want tough realism, try elsewhere, but a simple well acted romantic comedy is what this is. Paul Bettany practised for six months for this part and would fool most non tennis players. Kirsten Dunst doesn't need to fool anybody - she's a willowy, dimpled cutie when she's happy but a dour sour-face if she feels wronged.
A Grand Slam Of Tennis, Romance, And Heart
posted on 23 May 2009This is a real fun movie to watch when you want to cheer, cry, and just feel great - lots of love, and lots and lots of tennis - all the actors are right for their roles with Bettany outstanding as the recalcitrant over-the-hill journeyman player who get a second lease of life when he fall in love with fellow tennis pro, Kirsten Dunst. All in all, this is much much better than most romantic comedies - the sporting angle really is brilliant and it really is a film about tennis rather than just a situation comedy. It's even got lots of John McEnroe doing the running commentary.Surprisingly moving and very funny this was one of our favorite films of the year.Recommended!
(4-) Game, Set and Match!
posted on 15 May 2009CORRECTION: My intended rating of this charming film is slightly less than four stars, not the five stars shown above.
This is a delightful romantic comedy carried by the co-stars Paul Bettany (Peter Colt) and Kirsten Dunst (Lizzie Bradbury), who share top billing with the most famous venue in tennis - the Wimbledon Club at tournament time. The director, Richard Loncraine, had initially envisioned this as primarily the story of Peter Colt, a veteran tennis player briefly ranked #11 in the world (as he has to keep correcting people) but now languishing at #119 and hoping to make it through the first few rounds of his final tournament before retiring from the tour to take a job as a teaching pro at a local club. Miss Dunst's role as an extremely self confident rising American star expected to become the women's champion was intended to act as the foil to Peter's loss of confidence. However, her screen presence and the audience reaction during the test screenings (complemented by her vault to star status as Peter Parker's Mary Jane in SPIDERMAN) led to an expansion of her role and undoubtedly significantly enhanced the charm of the film.
Due to a mixup by the front desk clerk at the players' hotel, Peter and Lizzie inadvertently meet when the tournament begins and his subsequent thoughts of her provide a welcome distraction and relief from the inherent tension of the event. Later that day on the practice court, they engage in a friendly contest and she reveals that she had been first been attracted to him while watching his match in a previous tournament. When they manage to escape her overbearing father and meet for dinner in her room, he discovers that her mind is on wine and fun, rather than fish and chips and tennis. Her supreme self-confidence (and perhaps her supersize ego looking for other games at which she can also win) leads her to propose a test - to discover whether a liasion before their matches will add to or detract from from their performance on the court. Peter, to his great surprise, finds his game much improved and his self confidence gradually improving during the next few matches. Maybe it is Lizzie's support, maybe it's the nighttime workouts or perhaps it's just the energy inspired by the knowledge that this is his last hurrah. Meanwhile, as his game improves, Lizzie's deteriorates and the tension between them increases as the seriousness of their relationship escalates.
There are several additional stories woven into the plot, including the reactions of the various members of Peter's dysfunctional family (his brother always bets against him) as Peter advances through the tournament. A further complication arises when one of Lizzie's former "conquests" and the #1 men's seed forces Peter to consider the fact that their interlude may be nothing but another game for Lizzie. Peter also confronts a major challenge when he reaches the quarterfinals and his opponent is his closest friend and longtime practice partner. Can he really recapture the "killer instinct" which Lizzie reminds him he will need in order to win such a high stakes match? More importantly, can Peter continiue to raise the level of his game as the word Love suddenly assumes a whole new meaning and level of importance in his life?
Since neither of the co-stars are particularly skilled at tennis, the matches themselves are not the primary focus of the film, although there is enough action shown during the crucial matches to justify the sports theme of the film. For tennis fans, the most interesting aspect may be the element of reality added by the inclusion in the cast of John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Mary Carillo as the match announcers and color commentators. Their presence certainly adds authenticity to the Wimbledon tournament as the movie's centerpiece, and McEnroe's pointed commentary was totally in keeping with his personality. Chrissie's and John's discussion of how a few critical incidents (such as a net cord on a break point, a rain delay or a blown call by a line judge) at crucial points during the match can suddenly change the momentum and determine the outcome of a close match not only ring true to any tennis fan, but of course foreshadow future events in the film.
This is another very good romantic comedy by a British director. The story is certainly not up to the quality of NOTTING HILL, and it is not as edgy as either LOVE ACTUALLY or BRIDGET JONES DIARY, but nevertheless it is really fun with a lot of opportunities to smile and several truly comic laugh out loud sequences. The storyline is thin enough so I don't plan to see it several times in the theater or purchase the DVD when it is released, but I will undoubtedly enjoy watching it occasionally on television. It's great fun to watch Peter try to concentrate on the most important tennis match of his life when he is concerned about the possibilty that his actions have jeopardized his off court match of a lifetime with Lizzie. Of course, the final denouement is as predictable as usual in a romantic comedy, but that in no way spoils the enjoyment of seeing how the film arrives there or the tension as the tournament proceeds and Peter's career nears its conclusion.
Tucker Andersen
Overall, a cute movie
posted on 13 May 2009Wimbledon is a cute story where cute people fall in love, make great love, than have an inevitable and predictable fight in the middle of it all.Even though this movie follows the formula's of most romantic comedies, it is saved by above-average chemistry with its leads, (Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany) and the tennis aspect it is focused around. The romance between Dunst and Bettany works because they share the commonality of their sport, which helps to ignite their relationship.If you're not a lover of cute sappy moments like barefooted walks in the park or 10 mile jogs resulting in a big cuddle-fest, than at least see this movie for its realistic tennis scenes. These scenes (which were really shot at Wimbledon) are extremely well done, especially those of Bettany's matches, where you can hear his comical inner thoughts before he serves the ball. The scenes reflect the pressure and intimidation that every tennis player must feel once he steps out onto the court. While Wimbledon is certainly not the best romantic comedy, I left the theater smiling rather than gagging. And for me, that's a good thing.
A nice feel-good romantic comedy
posted on 11 May 2009I've seen this movie when I woke up this morning before going to work and I was charmed by it. It is a nice feel-good romantic comedy, perhaps pretty obvious in its storyline, but with good performance (even Kirsten Dunst that I normally dislike was quite charming) and excellent tennis scenes enhanced by catchy special effects. Of course it is not as good as Nothing Hill because it lacks these unforgettable moments of pure humor and even if the characters are charming, they are not as colorful as the one in Nothing Hill, but if you want to boost your temper on a depressing rainy day, this film is highly recommended! At least it gave me the right support that I needed before leaving my cosy flat to face this hard day of labor.
So-So Romantic Comedy in the Tired Hugh Grant tradition
posted on 03 May 2009I liked it as I watched it, but as it drew to its ultra-predictable conclusion, I realized just how shallow it was. Movies like this depend on the charm of their two leads, and Paul Bettany holds up his end, but Kirsten Dunst's underwritten, underperformed character as little more than "the girl" prevents the movie from achieving romantic magic. In fact, Kirsten Dunst is losing it for me.Dunst was a wet blanket in Spider-Man 2, an ever-whiny Mary Jane who could not convincingly perform the tiny part in Broadway's Importance of Being Earnest revival. Here, there doesn't appear to be a soul to her free-spirit tennis pro. Dunst's eyes just look blank, like she's going through the motions to collect a paycheck.The plot really centers around Bettany's character. He's a 30-something British tennis pro whose ranking has slipped to 118th in the world. He's decided to retire as a time when no one really notices, and he'll make Wimbledon his last tournament. While there, he starts to fall for a young American rising star.We know at the beginning of every match who's going to win. We know when Bettany loses the girl, he's going to get her back. This is from the production company who brought us Love Actually, and this movie could've been the tenth subplot cut out of that movie. I heard a lot of the older people commenting on what a "cute" movie it was, but there's really nothing substantial here, nice as it is to see Bettany in a romantic leading-man role. Rated PG-13 for language and sexual situations.
"Hit this one and I'll sleep with you"
posted on 29 Apr 2009I play tennis frequently and like to watch it on TV, and my wife likes romantic comedies, so this movie was a very good blend for our tastes. On top of that, I really enjoyed the film and found it an above average comedy, since it delivers great laughs in an unexplored topic with good actors.
Everything starts with Peter Colt (Bettany) playing in one of the tournaments that serve as a preparation for Wimbledon. He is in the declining stage of his career, since he is thirty-one and lately he has been consistently crushed by up and coming young players. This explains his current ranking, 119th in the world, which has dropped considerable from his best at 11th. In most people's mind he has another point against him, he is a rich kid, and it is common belief that you need to be really hungry to be a top player and succeed.
Wimbledon looks like Peter's last chance to achieve his dream (same as every pro player in the world has), and the experience starts better than he expected, right from the moment he arrives at his hotel. A mix-up with the room assignments ends up with him going into the room of Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst), an American star expected to win the female singles. After seeing her in the shower, Peter's day clearly improves. When later they start a relationship, the plot evolves around whether it is possible for them to have this and still be focused on the tournament or not.
Having Pat Cash as an advisor certainly helped to make the tennis aspects more believable, for example we get to see how superstitious tennis players are. When Peter starts winning he does not want to change to a better hotel room, similar to what Gustavo Kuerten did when he was an unknown player and ended up winning Roland Garros. Some other aspects of the movie also shown similarities with the real world of pro tennis, like Lizzie's relationship with her controlling father, bringing to mind the cases of many famous females players in the tour.
The movie is an above average comedy because the subject matter is original and it has the power of keeping us interested throughout the almost two hours it runs for. Dunst and Bettany are very good in their roles, and I was surprised when I found out that none of them had played tennis before. Even though in the scenes showing games the ball was not actually directed by the hitting of the actors, but rather through CGI, they had to mimic the strokes, and for beginners these were pretty good (Pat Cash's influence again). For many couples out there in which the guy does not really like romantic comedies, and the gal does not like sports, this may be a perfect compromise.
Charming, Pleasant and Slightly-Flawed Romantic Comedy
posted on 31 Aug 2009Wimbledon is a fine movie that you'll not regret seeing. It is just about exactly what you'll expect it to be, going in, if you expect a harmless romance-comedy with a light sports theme to give it form.
Kirsten Dunst, while always cute, is slightly weak in her role, but that is more than made up for by Bettany, who will one day catch the right part, in the right movie, and become a household name. He shines wherever he goes.
The tennis action is servicable (intended) and the romance is more or less believable--their chemistry works. We honestly do root for their relationship in the end, even though Dunst's character is a little questionable. The supporting parts run are all pretty fun, but sometimes a little over-the-top (for example, the sports agent). The editing/camera tricks, with its slow motion, freeze frames, hyper-color and voice-over narration don't really add anything and, at times, distract. Certain aspects, like Bettany's relationship to a ball boy, are a little syrupy and unnecessary.
Overall, this movie will not set your world on fire, and it has some flaws, but they don't prevent the film from being a cute and worthwhile romance. For a date night, recommended.