Wimbledon – 2004 | 98 mins | Romance, Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

The most prestigious grand slam tournament on the tennis tour is the setting for Working Title’s latest middle-class romantic comedy. Shot on location at the prestigious All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Wimbledon is extremely formulaic and clichéd, but since when has that been a problem for the cynical team responsible for Notting Hill (1999) and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Director Richard Loncraine makes sure to include the same eccentric humour that set apart the aforementioned films from other comedies, but it won’t necessarily have the audience rolling in the aisles. The actual tennis scenes themselves are effectively captured, but the contrived love affair fails to ring true. Bettany and Dunst do their best to rise above the film’s cheesy dialogue but a lack of chemistry between the pair makes them appear more like siblings than lovers.

Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) a jaded British tennis player is unlucky in love both professionally and personally. Seeded near the bottom of the world rankings, he manages to secure a wild card, allowing him to play in the Wimbledon tournament. There, he meets and falls in love with quick-tempered Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), a young American tennis star controlled by her authoritarian father (Sam Neill). Fuelled by a mixture of his newfound luck, love and on-court prowess, Peter goes on a winning streak and works his way up the ranks of the tournament players and actually stands a chance of fulfilling his lifelong dream of winning the men’s singles title.