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Wimbledon
Universal // PG-13 // December 28, 2004
List Price: $29.98 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie
When we speak of a "reputation" in the filmmaking community, the first thing which usually comes to mind is that latest juicy gossip which has arisen concerning a star. Fortunately, there are other kinds of "reputations", such as the clout that someone has built through their previous work. Hollywood marketers use these reputations in film advertising to lure audience to their movie. When I saw "From the Makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill" in the ads for Wimbledon, I was instantly intrigued. However, I've been a movie fan long enough that I should have known better than to fall for the hype, as Wimbledon doesn't come close to matching the majesty of those British romantic-comedy classics.
Wimbledon tells the story of Brit Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), a professional tennis player who is in his early thirties and at the end of his career. Once ranked 11th in the world, Peter has now accepted a job as a pro at a country club. But, before he retires completely, Peter plans to compete at Wimbledon one last time. On his first day there, Peter meets a sassy young American player named Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), who is playing at Wimbledon for the first time. There is an immediate spark between the two and this gives Peter a new surge of energy, enabling him to win his first match. Following this, Peter and Lizzie embark on a romantic spree as the tournament continues. However, their opponents aren't the only obstacles which they face. Lizzie's father, Dennis (Sam Neill), doesn't necessarily dislike Peter, but he wants Lizzie to focus on her game. Also, Lizzie and Peter have trouble hiding their tryst from the press. Is it possible for these two tennis players to find love off the courts?
Wimbledon comes from Working Title Films, which is overseen by Wimbledon's producer Eric Fellner and executive producer Tim Bevan, who have brought us not only the aforementioned Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill, but also Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, and Love Actually. And while none of those films are flawless (especially Love Actually, they have certainly established the modern touchstone for English-based romantic comedies. But, the lackluster Wimbledon ends the winning streak by this company.
Oh, I'm sure that Wimbledon looked good on paper, as the plot is quite similar to that of Notting Hill -- semi-successful British man meets American star and torrid romance ensues. The casting of respected actor Paul Bettany and "It-Girl" Kirsten Dunst probably seemed like a good idea at the time, as well. However, it is these elements which ruin the film. At times, the story is very similar to Notting Hill (right down to Peter's slacker brother, Carl (James McAvoy), who is a stand-in for Rhys Ifan's Spike), and one can't help but compare Wimbledon to that superior film. The film brings nothing new to the "sports film" genre, and there are few surprises from the courts. The casting is also way off in this movie. Bettany has proven his strength as a supporting actor in the past, and he was fantastic in both A Beautiful Mind and Master and Commander. But, he appears to be out of his element here, and doesn't pull off the romantic leading man thing very well. (Not to be confused with "the romantic leading Man-Thing". That film would take place in a swamp and most likely be far, far better.) Bettany is certainly believable as Peter Colt, but he's also a limp dishrag of a character and isn't the least bit charming. (A rumor on IMDB.com that Hugh Grant was originally considered for Peter only makes one wonder how that film would have been.)
And for another view on this subject, we turn to my wife's perspective, who commented on Peter's practice partner Dieter, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "You can't have the best friend be better looking than the leading man!" (On the audio commentary for Wimbledon Bettany says of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "Too good looking to live" and "I couldn't quite believe that you were casting him as my best friend.") As for Kirsten Dunst, she's perfectly cast as the bratty American tennis player and easily fits into this role. However, whenever she is on-screen with Bettany, there is no chemistry or spark whatsoever. If we can't buy the fact that these two would ever be together, then the film loses any power which it may hold over the audience.
It's really too bad that the story and casting hinder the success of Wimbledon, as director Richard Loncraine, who's better known for making serious dramas, have given the film a nice look. During the tennis matches, we hear Peter's thoughts, given us an inner perspective on his character. The matches themselves are well-shot (using a CGI tennis ball) and of course, filming at Wimbledon gives the film a certain mystique. Wimbledon has a great deal of promise, but it doesn't work as either a sports film or a romantic comedy.
Video
Wimbledon is lobbed over the net onto DVD courtesy of Universal Studios Home Video. The film has come to DVD in two separate releases, one full-frame and the other widescreen. For the purposes of this review, only the widescreen version was viewed. The film has been letterboxed at 2.35:1 and the transfer is enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs. The image is sharp, but overly bright at times, forcing the image to lose some of its detail. There is no grain to be seen on the image, but there is a great deal of artifacting, making it look as if a layer of gauze has been laid upon the picture. The colors are good for the most part, although they are slightly washed out at times. There is no overt evidence of edge-enhancement. For a recent release from a major studio, the transfer on Wimbledon is a disappointment.
Audio
The Wimbledon DVD carries both a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, as well as a DTS 5.1 track, and both are very good. The tracks provide clear and audible dialogue with no hissing or distortion. The stereo effects are quite good, most notably during the opening title sequence. But, it's during the tennis matches that the sound really comes to life. When we hear Peter's thoughts, the sound comes from all five speakers, filling the room. There is a nice use of bass response during the games as well, and the crowd noise also emanates from the surround channels. Both tracks are equally good, but the DTS track does have a slightly "crisper" sound.
Extras
The Wimbledon DVD contains an odd assortment of extras. We start with an audio commentary from director Richard Loncraine and star Paul Bettany. This is a nice talk as the two chat about the production of the film, the actors, and the locations. We are given a good deal of insight into exactly where the film was shot and what it was like to shoot at Wimbledon. "Wimbledon: A Look Inside" (10 minutes) refers to the film and not the famous tennis club. This making-of featurette offers some behind-the-scenes footage and comments from the cast & crew. It casually gazes over the story and characters without giving too much detail. Wimbledon, the place, is discussed in "Welcome to the Club" (3 minutes), as the cast and crew comment on what it was like to shoot on location, but we are offered no insight into how access was granted to shoot there and what special precautions had to be taken. The special effects of the film are examined in "Ball Control" (5 minutes), showing us how CGI balls were used in the matches, as well as motion control cameras. Tennis advisor Pat Cash talks about teaching the cast to play like pros in "Coach a Rising Star" (3 minutes). The extras are rounded out by the trailer for Wimbledon, which is letterboxed at 1.85:1, but is not 16 x 9.
(OK, you've been waiting for the tennis puns, so here they are.) After seeing Wimbledon, I'm not surprised that it didn't create more of a "racquet" at the box-office, as I certainly didn't "love" it. The poor script and casting create a "double-fault" and if you want to rent this one, don't be surprised if it isn't "out".
When we speak of a "reputation" in the filmmaking community, the first thing which usually comes to mind is that latest juicy gossip which has arisen concerning a star. Fortunately, there are other kinds of "reputations", such as the clout that someone has built through their previous work. Hollywood marketers use these reputations in film advertising to lure audience to their movie. When I saw "From the Makers of Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill" in the ads for Wimbledon, I was instantly intrigued. However, I've been a movie fan long enough that I should have known better than to fall for the hype, as Wimbledon doesn't come close to matching the majesty of those British romantic-comedy classics.
Wimbledon tells the story of Brit Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), a professional tennis player who is in his early thirties and at the end of his career. Once ranked 11th in the world, Peter has now accepted a job as a pro at a country club. But, before he retires completely, Peter plans to compete at Wimbledon one last time. On his first day there, Peter meets a sassy young American player named Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), who is playing at Wimbledon for the first time. There is an immediate spark between the two and this gives Peter a new surge of energy, enabling him to win his first match. Following this, Peter and Lizzie embark on a romantic spree as the tournament continues. However, their opponents aren't the only obstacles which they face. Lizzie's father, Dennis (Sam Neill), doesn't necessarily dislike Peter, but he wants Lizzie to focus on her game. Also, Lizzie and Peter have trouble hiding their tryst from the press. Is it possible for these two tennis players to find love off the courts?
Wimbledon comes from Working Title Films, which is overseen by Wimbledon's producer Eric Fellner and executive producer Tim Bevan, who have brought us not only the aforementioned Bridget Jones's Diary and Notting Hill, but also Four Weddings and a Funeral, About a Boy, and Love Actually. And while none of those films are flawless (especially Love Actually, they have certainly established the modern touchstone for English-based romantic comedies. But, the lackluster Wimbledon ends the winning streak by this company.
Oh, I'm sure that Wimbledon looked good on paper, as the plot is quite similar to that of Notting Hill -- semi-successful British man meets American star and torrid romance ensues. The casting of respected actor Paul Bettany and "It-Girl" Kirsten Dunst probably seemed like a good idea at the time, as well. However, it is these elements which ruin the film. At times, the story is very similar to Notting Hill (right down to Peter's slacker brother, Carl (James McAvoy), who is a stand-in for Rhys Ifan's Spike), and one can't help but compare Wimbledon to that superior film. The film brings nothing new to the "sports film" genre, and there are few surprises from the courts. The casting is also way off in this movie. Bettany has proven his strength as a supporting actor in the past, and he was fantastic in both A Beautiful Mind and Master and Commander. But, he appears to be out of his element here, and doesn't pull off the romantic leading man thing very well. (Not to be confused with "the romantic leading Man-Thing". That film would take place in a swamp and most likely be far, far better.) Bettany is certainly believable as Peter Colt, but he's also a limp dishrag of a character and isn't the least bit charming. (A rumor on IMDB.com that Hugh Grant was originally considered for Peter only makes one wonder how that film would have been.)
And for another view on this subject, we turn to my wife's perspective, who commented on Peter's practice partner Dieter, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "You can't have the best friend be better looking than the leading man!" (On the audio commentary for Wimbledon Bettany says of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, "Too good looking to live" and "I couldn't quite believe that you were casting him as my best friend.") As for Kirsten Dunst, she's perfectly cast as the bratty American tennis player and easily fits into this role. However, whenever she is on-screen with Bettany, there is no chemistry or spark whatsoever. If we can't buy the fact that these two would ever be together, then the film loses any power which it may hold over the audience.
It's really too bad that the story and casting hinder the success of Wimbledon, as director Richard Loncraine, who's better known for making serious dramas, have given the film a nice look. During the tennis matches, we hear Peter's thoughts, given us an inner perspective on his character. The matches themselves are well-shot (using a CGI tennis ball) and of course, filming at Wimbledon gives the film a certain mystique. Wimbledon has a great deal of promise, but it doesn't work as either a sports film or a romantic comedy.
Video
Wimbledon is lobbed over the net onto DVD courtesy of Universal Studios Home Video. The film has come to DVD in two separate releases, one full-frame and the other widescreen. For the purposes of this review, only the widescreen version was viewed. The film has been letterboxed at 2.35:1 and the transfer is enhanced for 16 x 9 TVs. The image is sharp, but overly bright at times, forcing the image to lose some of its detail. There is no grain to be seen on the image, but there is a great deal of artifacting, making it look as if a layer of gauze has been laid upon the picture. The colors are good for the most part, although they are slightly washed out at times. There is no overt evidence of edge-enhancement. For a recent release from a major studio, the transfer on Wimbledon is a disappointment.
Audio
The Wimbledon DVD carries both a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, as well as a DTS 5.1 track, and both are very good. The tracks provide clear and audible dialogue with no hissing or distortion. The stereo effects are quite good, most notably during the opening title sequence. But, it's during the tennis matches that the sound really comes to life. When we hear Peter's thoughts, the sound comes from all five speakers, filling the room. There is a nice use of bass response during the games as well, and the crowd noise also emanates from the surround channels. Both tracks are equally good, but the DTS track does have a slightly "crisper" sound.
Extras
The Wimbledon DVD contains an odd assortment of extras. We start with an audio commentary from director Richard Loncraine and star Paul Bettany. This is a nice talk as the two chat about the production of the film, the actors, and the locations. We are given a good deal of insight into exactly where the film was shot and what it was like to shoot at Wimbledon. "Wimbledon: A Look Inside" (10 minutes) refers to the film and not the famous tennis club. This making-of featurette offers some behind-the-scenes footage and comments from the cast & crew. It casually gazes over the story and characters without giving too much detail. Wimbledon, the place, is discussed in "Welcome to the Club" (3 minutes), as the cast and crew comment on what it was like to shoot on location, but we are offered no insight into how access was granted to shoot there and what special precautions had to be taken. The special effects of the film are examined in "Ball Control" (5 minutes), showing us how CGI balls were used in the matches, as well as motion control cameras. Tennis advisor Pat Cash talks about teaching the cast to play like pros in "Coach a Rising Star" (3 minutes). The extras are rounded out by the trailer for Wimbledon, which is letterboxed at 1.85:1, but is not 16 x 9.
(OK, you've been waiting for the tennis puns, so here they are.) After seeing Wimbledon, I'm not surprised that it didn't create more of a "racquet" at the box-office, as I certainly didn't "love" it. The poor script and casting create a "double-fault" and if you want to rent this one, don't be surprised if it isn't "out".
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