30-something - Love
Wimbledon
Review by Ross Anthony

This is simply a strong entertaining film. Professional production, hardy acting, solid direction, engaging story. It's got romance, sport, comedy and drama. You'll laugh a bit, you'll get choked up a bit, and you'll never be bored, never point at the screen and say, "That wouldn't happen."

Wimbledon Though Dunst gets top billing, Paul Bettany's character dominates the film. Well-known in Britain, Bettany is lesser known in the States, although he was also smashing in "A Knight's Tale." He plays the "aging" tennis pro, slipping in the ranks to 119; the film lets us in on the self-talk going on in his head during every serve. Though tennis may lack some of the excitement of contact sports, the cinematography brings viewers onto the court, even following the ball to the turf on occasion. They're very nice creative touches that don't overwhelm the overall feel of the visuals. In fact, the cinematography and editing are very professional, subtly elegant.

The pace and emotional arc will take you on a very crisp entertaining ride. While the film never becomes terribly intense, or dramatically heavy; nor does it intend to. Rather, it opts to entertain with a light, yet wide range of emotion. And btw, the opening credits are marvelously appropriate -- perhaps the best of the year.

Bettany says, "My last film I played a ship's surgeon, but I wouldn't want to operate on anyone. So with training, I thought I could approximate being a tennis player, even though I'm not. And the falling in love bit, well, that's the easy part."


  • Wimbledon. Copyright © 2004.
  • Starring Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, Bernard Hill.
  • Directed by Richard Loncraine.
  • Screenplay by Adam Brooks and Jeffifer Flackett and Mark Levin.
  • produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Liza Chasin, Mary Richards at Universal/Studiocannal.

Grade..........................A (3.5/4)

Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.

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Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 07:50:06 PDT