Review

Review Date: 19-September-04
Spoiler Rating: Medium
Juju Judgment: Juicy

Wimbledon (2004)

At a point in time many years ago, tennis was the most important thing in the world to me, and when I was playing my best I was happier than ever before (or since). What put a stop to my modest varsity triumphs, and indeed my playing altogether, was the intrusion of Life, my inability to prevent the worries, doubts, and questions of adulthood from impeding my drive to play through and come out on top. This history best explains why I enjoyed the romantic sports movie "Wimbledon" so much, since I related to its hardscrabble hero and his life-as-tennis struggle for fulfillment. But you don't need to know the difference between a deuce and a double fault to appreciate the pleasures of "Wimbledon."

Ostensibly a singles match, the movie spends a lot of time in the head of Peter Colt (the smashing Paul Bettany), a 31-year-old, British has-been who obtains a wild-card entry at Wimbledon as a last hurrah before retiring from the professional circuit. Peter has enjoyed a decent life (money, comfortably eccentric family, one-time ranking of 11th in the world) but views the tournament as a gateway to the middle-aged period of diminished desire and missed-opportunity regret. Yet, in the way of Hollywood salvation, his expectations are challenged when he meets and immediately starts shagging an American up-and-comer named Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), who possesses the no-holds-barred, 150-percent, killer instinct of the successful young athlete. Lizzie's attitude and nocturnal coaching provide just the inspiration Peter needs to silence the fretful voices in his mind (to which the audience is often privy) and make his last shot at glory a memorable one.

"Wimbledon" follows the typical romantic comedy arc (meeting, sex, easily vaulted little obstacles, potentially ruinous big obstacle, omnia vincit amor) and has all the trappings associated with the genre (a plethora of stock characters who provide humorous or sentimental touches), but it wisely keeps the nonessentials on the sidelines. The focus remains throughout on the notable strengths of the film: Bettany's charming turn as an average guy worth rooting for; his chemistry with Dunst and her secondary but equally likable performance; and the exciting and glamorous backdrop of the All-England Club, whose hallowed greens and world-famous fortnight have long been ripe for movie-star treatment. Altogether, these serve up a winning love story and a distinctive fable about a moment in a man's life when he was suddenly able to turn everyday contests into a grand slam.

Copyright © 2004 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.