Wimbledon 2004
I got the chance to borrow this DVD from a friend. I remembered hearing good things about it when it came out, but had never gotten around to seeing it. Somehow Kirsten Dunst as a professional athlete seemed kind of unlikely. Then to try and make her to be some kind of brat like John McEnroe (who appears in the movie as John McEnroe the commentator along with a number of other current and past tennis pros) seemed another step over the line. Anyway, it’s a shame so few people saw this one because it was probably the best romantic comedy of the year, very similar to Notting Hill but without the star power of Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
The movie centers mostly around Paul Bettany as a professional tennis player who can only look forward to a continuing slide down the world rankings and getting beaten in more and more opening rounds by players decades younger than he is (he’s in his late 30’s). Kirsten Dunst is the bratty American pro bent on winning her first Wimbledon. Though she doesn’t mind hooking up with the Brit playing his last professional tournament, she would rather avoid anything serious that might get in the way of her game. Famous last words.
The two leads are very good. Bettany gives Hugh Grant a run for his money playing the self-doubting but charming Englishman. Dunst is hard not to like and is too cute and pleasant to be believably bratty. But when the movie steps outside of the primary story, it falters. Dunst’s father (played by Sam Neill) is kind of weak. Bettany’s slacker brother is an unwelcome diversion. Jon Favreau gets a dicey role as friend and slimy agent of Bettany who is torn because he also represents just about everyone else.
Anyway, the dialogue is enjoyable and funny, and while the whole movie is pretty predictable, it is still fun to watch. Though it doesn’t have the professional polish of Notting Hill, it also avoids a lot of that movie’s missteps, so I’ll give it a B+.
The DVD has some good extras including showing how they were able to use CGI tennis balls to give the actors the ability to place the ball perfectly every time.
Owned on: Digital