Wimbledon

It's a romantic comedy. Let's face it: it's not going to be winning any Oscars. For its genre though, it was a very enjoyable movie and even a step up since the romance was often, in a way, the B storyline. A fairly unique premise and excellent work from Paul Bettany as usual. Bernard Hill, James McAvoy, Nikolaj Coaster-Waldau and Jon Favreau gave memorable performances also, but Kirsten Dunst left a little something wanting.

The camera work and narration was different and very interesting. I also liked that the "roles" were reversed and it was told more from Peter's point of view

9/10.

Wimbledon is a cute story where cute people fall in love, make great love, than have an inevitable and predictable fight in the middle of it all.

Even though this movie follows the formula's of most romantic comedies, it is saved by above-average chemistry with its leads, (Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany) and the tennis aspect it is focused around. The romance between Dunst and Bettany works because they share the commonality of their sport, which helps to ignite their relationship.

If you're not a lover of cute sappy moments like barefooted walks in the park or 10 mile jogs resulting in a big cuddle-fest, than at least see this movie for its realistic tennis scenes. These scenes (which were really shot at Wimbledon) are extremely well done, especially those of Bettany's matches, where you can hear his comical inner thoughts before he serves the ball. The scenes reflect the pressure and intimidation that every tennis player must feel once he steps out onto the court.

While Wimbledon is certainly not the best romantic comedy, I left the theater smiling rather than gagging. And for me, that's a good thing.

"Wimbledon" is another one of those agreeable, English-flavored romantic comedies which in years past would have starred a stammering Hugh Grant. This time the principals are professional tennis players and the setting is Wimbledon. Paul Bettany makes for a good romantic lead in the Grant mold without the latter's sometimes annoying cloying and also is convincing as a tennis player at the tail end of his career. But Kirsten Dunst, the love interest, while giving a very likable performance, does not look her part. She also is not helped by the screenplay, which does not present her as a particularly compelling match. In fact, the character seems more like one that usually would be set up as the rival, missing the elements of the "intended". Further causing the film to come across less than compelling: Every character, save one, is nice, making it nearly conflict-free. Not a waste of time, but nothing memorable, "Wimbledon" is a tension-free, pick-me-up: The movie equivalent of a lightly-flavored carbonated water: effervescent, but lacking any distinct taste.

This movie was better of what I expected, it was interesting and entertaining.

I had seen Paul Bettany in " Gangster No. 1 (2000)" and I was surprised that he could do a romantic comedy so well too, he had a good chemistry with the beautiful Kirsten Dunst who is always good in this kind of movies. The plot is interesting and I liked a lot the tennis games scenes. What I didn't like so much were some silly moments involving Peter Colt's brother and manager.

Peter Colt is playing his last tournament at Wimbledon and there he will meet Lizzie a young tennis player with a great future with whom he will begin a romance behind her father's back ..........

I recommend watching it if you like romantic comedy movies.

Overall I felt this was quite a good film that subtly redefined the mould of the British 'chick-flick' romantic comedy/drama.

It almost lost me in the first few scenes when Robert Lindsay was introduced as the tennis club manager with stereotypical skinny moustache to let you know he is a bit of a sleaze, but work through that and the underlying sub plot of this being Peter Colt's last chance to not be one of the barely remembered, did not quite make it tennis club pro's works quite well.

The Lizzie Bradbury character of the female lead also veered away from the stereotype for that role, although cute and very sexy her character is not particularly nice and it took me a while to get attached to her. However the reality is that at that level of competition in truth how many people are 'Strawberries and Cream nice' very few, so top marks to the script writers for a realistic heroin.

It was good to see a film of this ilk without Hugh Grant as the lead, no disrespect to Mr. Grant but you can only recycle him as the romantic Brit lead so many times. Paul Bettany worked well with a script that was clearly written for Hugh to the point that in the early shower scene if you shut your eyes (which I would highly recommend any red blooded male not to do) you would think it was him playing Peter Colt.

I firmly expected a twist at the end which did not come, to the extent that the ending was quite a surprise, enough said without invoking spoilers.

Also top marks to the old and new British character actors in the lesser parts who always bring an ironic smile to a local in this brand of movie.