Wimbledon Synopsis: A pro tennis player has lost his ambition and has fallen in rank to 119. Fortunately for him, he meets a young player on the women’s circuit who helps him recapture his focus for Wimbledon.
Pro tennis player Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) arrives at Wimbledon ranked 119th and is ready to retire as soon as he is beaten during the tournament. There, he meets a tenacious new star in the tennis world, Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), who is instantly intrigued by Peter. As the two begin to spend more time with one another, Peter’s game begins to improve, and he begins an unlikely journey to the finals.
Wimbledon is undoubtedly a romantic comedy, but it’s also an underdog story. Peter is at the end of his career, quickly overshadowed by the younger competition, at least when it comes to fans and the media. His parents are going through a rough patch in their marriage (his father has moved into the treehouse outside), and his younger brother, played by a very young, fresh-faced James McAvoy, has a gambling problem with a habit of betting against Peter in every match he faces.
Lizzie’s competitive nature has made her a somewhat polarizing figure in the media, but she refuses to let anything distract her from her goal of winning Wimbledon. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to have a little fun and maybe blow off steam, and that’s where Peter comes in.
Dunst and Bettany have charming chemistry, but ultimately, this movie belongs to Bettany. He’s an incredibly appealing lead with an aw-shucks likeability that reminded me much of Hugh Grant. While I enjoyed his scenes with Dunst, the movie was still just as enjoyable without her. It’s Peter Colt’s last hurrah in the sports world, and watching him play and win his way through the competition is the kind of feel-good storyline I love to see in my sporty, romantic comedies.
Yes, the final game is predictably played against a young, arrogant American who is expected to win without much effort. However, despite knowing how it’s likely to end, it’s still satisfying to watch Peter pull himself together with the help of Lizzie, and not go down without a fight.
I felt like Wimbledon struck a good balance between the sports angle and the romance. It was essential to execute it properly, because it’s clear a lot of Peter’s motivation and inspiration came from his blossoming relationship with Lizzie. The conflict they faced in their relationship was a believable one. Is there room for love when one’s ambition is to win at all costs? Lizzie was headstrong and occasionally irrational, but she was never entirely wrong, nor was Peter.
Their “dark moment” was not caused by miscommunication or jealousy but by relatable, understandable circumstances. I always appreciate a romantic comedy that doesn’t take the easy route to a breakup by tossing in a vicious ex or a text or voicemail taken out of context.
I’m not a massive fan of the sport, but I found the tennis sequences fascinating. I knew it was a movie, but I was still on the edge of my seat while watching the matches. It helps that Jon Favreau (playing Peter’s agent) was in the stands, supplying comedic relief during the more intense moments.
I have to add that the supporting cast was also marvelous, especially McAvoy and Bernard Hill, who plays Peter’s father. I would love to see McAvoy in more comedic roles. He has the talent for it.
Wimbledon’s fresh, funny script doesn’t skimp on character development. The romance feels natural, and the scenery is quite gorgeous. I was glad to watch this one again, and it’s one I will no doubt revisit.
Watched: 08/26/2020
Notable Song: This Year’s Love by David Gray
