Wimbledon (2004) * * *

Directed by:  Richard Loncraine

Starring:  Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Neill, James McAvoy, Bernard Hill, Austin Nichols, Eleanor Bron, Jon Favreau, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau

Peter Colt (Bettany) is at the end of a tennis career which at its zenith saw him reach #11 in the world.     He is now ranked beneath #100 and has to play his way into the Wimbledon tournament as a wild card.     He informs the press this will be his last tournament.     Nobody really cares.     Expecting to have an early exit and an ignominious end to his career, Colt meets the next big thing in women's tennis Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst).     They have sex.    They talk.   They hang out.    Peter wins his first round match, then his second, then he is suddenly in the conversation as a possible contender again.

Wimbledon is a touching romantic comedy and an authentic tennis film.    It has a documentary feel as it depicts the tournament.      The action is well shot and the scenes (shot on the grounds of the All-England Tennis Club where the tourney is held) are realistic.     Bettany and Dunst could pass for tennis pros.    We actually care about the match outcomes as much the romantic fate of the leads.
At first, Peter and Lizzie have a fling that does not sit well with Lizzie's father (Neill).     He wants her to focus and eat right.    He is not just a typical, unreasonable sports dad who behaves like a heavy.     It is refreshing to see him behave reasonably but firmly.

Peter and Lizzie are nice people and we root for them to get what they want.    It doesn't necessarily happen that way, which is refreshing in itself.     There are interesting supporting characters also, including Peter's parents (Hill, Bron), who haven't been sleeping together, a degenerate gambler brother (McAvoy) who will bet against his brother if need be, and Peter's friend and doubles partner Dieter (Coster-Waldau) whom Peter faces in the tournament.      Peter's agent Ron (Favreau) is cheerfully Don King-like as he attempts to capitalize on Peter's newfound celebrity.     Ron also represents Peter's professional rival (and Lizzie's former boyfriend) Jake Hammond (Nichols), which leads to a funny shot of Ron waving both miniature American and British flags when they play each other.    

There is more genuine suspense in the tennis scenes then there is in the romantic scenes.     We know what will happen with Lizzie and Peter, but we are happy for them.     As the tennis action progresses, we hear Peter's thoughts as the match wears on.     ("My back is killing me.    Just one more point.")     We get a strong feel for the physical and mental wear the game imposes on its players.     Is it any wonder why they need a day off between matches?

You don't see many tennis movies.      Most sports movies involve football or boxing, both which provide dramatic shorthand due to their intense physicality.      Tennis can be every bit as riveting as either football or boxing.     It can be beautiful, elegant, tiring, strategic, and emotional.     Matches ebb and flow.    Maybe movies think it is not cinematic enough to be enjoyed.     Wimbledon was not a box-office success, so studios may avoid tennis for that reason.     On its own terms, Wimbledon works well as a romance and a sports movie.     Plus, there is some pretty good tennis being played.