Wimbledon Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)September 20th, 2004
WIMBLEDON
---------
Peter Colt (Paul Bettany, "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World") was once ranked 11th in professional men's tennis, but now, ranked 119th, is looking at retiring from the circuit and taking a pro job at an English resort. Peter's plans are upended when a wildcard draw and American tennis sensation Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst, "Spider-Man 2") score him an unlikely love connection and a shot at winning "Wimbledon."
Director Richard Loncraine (1995's "Richard III") serves up a passable romantic comedy that shines brighter than it should due to the thoroughly charismatic performance of its leading man. Paul Bettany, a replacement for a too old Hugh Grant, proved himself a romantic lead in the dramatic "The Heart of Me," but here he displays a light touch that cements his reputation as a versatile actor able to take on any role presented to him.
When Peter arrives at his London hotel, he's given the wrong room key and an eyeful of Lizzie in a glass-booth shower stall. The young American has a wild reputation and she engages Peter in some betting on the practice courts. She wins a fish and chips dinner, a bet that she calls in from her hotel room that night, much to Peter's delighted surprise. Lizzie's manager dad, Dennis Bradbury (Sam Neill, "Jurassic Park III"), tries to thwart the romance, convinced that men give his daughter a mushy first serve, but the passionate affair gives Peter a new confidence that propels him through more rounds than anyone would have expected. Soon, Peter's the talk of Wimbledon, but when Lizzie decides to refocus on her game, he cannot stay away. Mr. Bradbury's concerns prove grounded, straining the love match just as Peter faces the finals and the overpoweringly favored Jake Hammond (Austin Hammond, "The Day After Tomorrow") - an unchivalrous ex-lover of Lizzie's.
Kirsten Dunst is a fine young actress, but she's unevenly matched with Bettany and the film is, ironically, at its weakest when the two are onscreen together. Bettany comes across as believably love-befuddled, but Dunst exudes more of a cheeky younger sister aura which gives the romance a creepy undertone (imagine if Grant had played Peter - ewww!). Bettany, who constantly describes himself in interviews as the cheaper alternative to Jude Law, should be considered up front more often - unlike his pricier colleague, Bettany has never disappointed. The film is at its strongest when concentrating on Peter's game and the male tennis enclave and on his amusingly dysfunctional family, an uppercrust bunch with a penchant for low comedy. We're introduced to mom Augusta (Eleanor Bron, one Bettany's costars in "The Heart of Me") being accused of snogging another man in sight of dad, Edward (Bernard Hill, "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King"), who is in the process of moving into a treehouse in the backyard as a result of the incident. Younger brother Carl (James McAvoy of "Bright Young Things" looking like Russell Crowe's younger brother), a bicyclist with a kickstand problem, lives off of Peter by wagering against him at the local Betting Office and picking up chicks in his reflected glory. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ("Black Hawk Down") is engaging in his own right as Peter's best friend and opponent Dieter Prohl and Jon Favreau ("Elf") is hilarious as Peter's gauche fair weather agent. In smaller roles Robert Lindsay, Jonathan Timmins and Barry Jackson all make their mark as a hopeful hotel owner, a black-eyed ball boy and the veddy British Wimbledon men's attendant. John McEnroe is amusing (and more comfortable) playing himself against a stiffer Chris Evert as Wimbledon color pros.
Cinematographer Darius Khondji ("Panic Room") films the love scenes against soft evenings and dawns, contrasting sharply with the bright, sharp court battles that feature the point of view of volleyed balls. Original music by Ed Shearmur ("Laws of Attraction") inventively works in the tennis theme.
"Wimbledon" is a breezy romantic sports comedy, but it is an uneven match. Still, two out of three ain't bad and it's a pleasure watching Bettany take center court.
B-
For more Reeling reviews visit http://www.reelingreviews.com
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
