Wimbledon

This is my first review on this site and it's long overdue. Heads up, I'm a little bias and reviews are entirely subjective, so don't go expecting anything professional; what I love may not be for you and vise-versa... With that said: *Rom coms are my favourite genre* They're easy to watch, fun, and end happily. I'm thirty-two now and I still find so much comfort and joy in watching a good old fashioned rom com than I do in watching the most recent Marvel film or high budget action thriller. With that said, Wimbledon is my favourite rom com, and my second favourite film... But why? *I love tennis, but I'm not sure that's enough* Having a general interest in the sport they're playing in the movie certainly doesn't put me off. But I also like Draft Day, a movie about American football. So, maybe the sport wasn't that much of a dealbreaker? *It's quintessentially English* The setting is nostalgic. Being English myself means that every building, road, bus, and sign are all familiar to me. I'm at home in this movie. It's a comfy film in a comfy genre with a comfy setting. The language, mannerisms, humour, and character behaviours are all as English as it gets, and it never fails to make me laugh or smile, even twenty years later... But that can't just be it, or Notting Hill, Love Actually, or About Time would be my Number One. They are, after all, objectively better rated movies... So, why does Wimbledon take the top spot in my heart? You know when a movie just scratches that itch? It has the story and the drama to keep you engaged, sure - but it also has lovable, rememberable, and funny characters who seem sincere and *real* Well, that's Wimbledon. It's a cliched love story that takes place over a few days and ultimately ends happily ever after, while having all the toppings of a quintessentially English framework with my favourite sport to boot. I watched this first when I was thirteen (and most recently a few minutes ago which is why I'm here), and thinking deeper on it, the movie was made for someone like me - I was its target audience: A young boy who believed in love and wanted to one day win Wimbledon and make my country and family proud. I managed most of that, but Wimbledon will sadly stay unticked on my to-do list... Ultimately, for me this movie has always deserved a 5/5 rating. It my not be for you and that's fine. But I adore this movie and the characters within it. I wanted to show it, and the actors and crew, some sincere and long overdue love for a movie I've seen a few dozen times over the years and will continue to enjoy for years to come.

Belíssimo filme, uma obra de arte em movimentos, como diria Fellini, uma das melhores "comédias românticas" já feitas.

Yes it's cliched and formulaic but the excellent incidental music, nice pacing and more than adequate skills from the protagonists make this a timeless winner.

As a tennis player this movie was very enjoyable. it was very light but still you wanted to watch further. I also liked how it brought humor and all the characters were very likeable. I probably wouldn't watch it again but watching it for the first time was fun. I wouldn't recommend this movie for people who don't play tennis as a decent part of the movie explores tennis matches.

Very English and Very Romantic.

I love the way this movie discusses the mental game of tennis and I absolutely adore Paul Bettany. Watch this movie for the excellent tennis and excellent story of a tennis player that is on his way out, and has one last hoorah. The tension with the matches is extremely well done. However on the romance side... this is a fail. Paul Bettany carries this movie because Kirsten Dunst really isn't very likable as a character and her acting is only so/so. She comes across as a young brat while he comes across as someone closer to 30 and mature and ready to settle down. Watching this movie again later in life, I wasn't as into their relationship. It seemed to me like he deserved someone more mature and closer to his age. This is no reflection of her relaxed approach to sex and relationships, which I liked, this was her portrayal as someone that is still cared for by her father, making it seem like she's 21 at best. I just didn't buy them as a couple for more than a fling. The love story needed some serious tweaking to make her worthy of the kind, hardworking hero that Paul Bettany is in this movie. She's selfish, immature, and almost child-like. She has no character arc, or change throughout the story. If this was better done and the romance matched the tennis, this movie would have really hit on such a higher level. Still okay though.

Who would of thought they could Romanticize Tennis in a reasonable yet predictably entertaining way. Paul Bettany is Funny & Charming & Kirsten Dunst is Hot as Hell...

Great sports movie hiding in a rom-com. Maybe the best tennis action sequences on film.

A more apparent definition of plainness regarding two primary genres meshed together with the same structural formula and typical charming reliance leading up to a predictable serve that the newly sighted collaboration would not be able to save, although the cast and the gaming spectacle provided given points without a guarantee win. (B-)

One of my favourite romantic comedies! Totally underrated.