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Professional tennis makes an unlikely but surprisingly effective backdrop for a lively romantic comedy inWimbledon. Peter Cort (Paul Bettany,Master and Commander), once ranked 11th in the world, has slipped to 119th and is heading into his last Wimbledon tournament when he runs into Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst,The Virgin Suicides,Spider-Man), a rising star. The two strike up a whirlwind romance that gives his game new life--but she insists it's going to be nothing but a passing fling. Their affair heats up and Cort finds himself steadily rising through the competition while Lizzie stumbles... Of course, the ending is never really in doubt--but Bettany is a unique cinematic presence, pale and lithe, doubtful of life but also hungry for it. Thanks to him and the ever-engaging Dunst,Wimbledonis funnier, more suspenseful, and more touching that anyone might expect, turning a conventional flick into a genuine charmer.--Bret Fetzer
A enjoyable romantic comedy I 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.
Cute, sweet, smart romantic comedy First off, I have to say that I am not a tennis expert. I did not detect an obvious flaw in the main actors' tennis playing. Therefore, I was able to enjoy and respond to the sharp dialogue and charming characters in this film.
If you like romantic comedies, this is a really good one. Paul Bettany is really good and if you are or have ever been an athlete you can identify with his inner dialogue as he is competing. They way it is shot and edited is quick and clean.
The only slight flaw in the film that I noticed was just a few lines between the two main characters that got a little sappy. But then again, I may be more cynical about love than most.
Also, because they is no nudity and they only eluded to sex without fully showing it, it is appropriate for younger teens and pre-teens. (They show them in bed afterward and clothes strewn on the floor but no graphic scenes)
I highly recommend this film as a feel good romantic comedy.Charming, funny, and unexpected It's hard to define what makes 'Wimbledon' work so well where the vast majority of other romantic comedies are such utter flops. The ending is somewhat predictable, the story follows the same basic line, there's the usual healthy interspersing of sex and jokes. But still, there's something special about this movie that makes it simply a joy to watch.
Certainly, the chemistry between Paul Bettany (as the seasoned tennis pro) and Kirsten Dunst (as the enfant terrible of the game) goes a long way toward what makes 'Wimbledon' so worth watching. Whenever these two are on the screen together, from their first meeting to the final shot of the film, they seem utterly meant to be together. They seem to share a genuine warmth and easy attitude together, never a put-on or an act. Rarely have I seen an on-screen couple that seemed so natural and unforced.
The humor of the film is also of a higher caliber than most similar movies. Always clever and sharp but never overdone, the laughs in the movie are many, and they are also remarkably genuine.
The style of the film, capturing the tempestuous game of tennis both on and off the court, helps a great deal as well. Most romantic comedies don't go the extra mile of capturing their subject so well, but I came away at the end of 'Wimbledon' energized equally by the sportsmanship I'd seen (an illusion remarkably well pulled off for the movie) as I was by the flowering romance essential to the story. From dynamic, 'follow-the-ball' camera shots to timed-exposure and uniquely dramatic angles and editing, I found myself enjoying the film for its technical wizardry as much as the story -- and I didn't even realize until it was over and I watched some of the DVD extras just how much of the film was crafted after the fact!
'Wimbledon' is the sort of movie that you can get caught up in easily. Truly warm, charming, and funny, it's just the sort of pick-me-up movie that can lighten the darkest of spirits, and make you feel good about love and life. And really, what more could you ask?
