Wimbledon
It’s not like I’ve gone around actively seeking out James McAvoy films. That’s actually not a lie. Despite how very important he and his talent are to me, there is a whole plethora of films that he has done that I haven’t found any interest in looking for. More out of the lack of his screen time or the fact they, honest to god, suck - sometimes when you support an actor, you’ve got to steer clear of certain movies.
So McAvoy’s appearance in Wimbledon, shown on television because naturally it’s one of the few films they can show around this tennis season, is a bit strange - especially after seeing him so acclaimed now. Which kind of dictates the whole aurora of the film. It’s a bit, well, off.
Wimbledon stars Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst as star-crossed lovers across the titular pitch. Having previously been in the top eleven of tennis players, Peter Colt has dropped down to somewhere in the hundreds. Dismayed at his new position, he plans to tell the world that he is retiring and this year will be his last. However, whilst there he starts performing ridiculously well, prompting him to go on till the bitter end. What could have caused this sudden change of performance? Could it be an interest in hot-headed American Lizzie Bradbury?
Why Is It Bad?
I actually don’t think it’s awful but it’s nice. That’s a kind of awfulness in itself, right? This is a story about nice people and has a niceness about it with no real drama. After all, Peter’s main sub-conscious conundrum is that he has never had to work hard for anything thanks to his affluent family and that has really been why he placated in his career. See that atmosphere of “this is really lovely” may sit as sickly as strawberries and cream in your stomach so much so that, at times, you’d wish for it to be called off for rain. It’s a fluffy film that doesn’t need too much thinking so if you were aiming for a strategic ferocious sporting movie about huge egos and balls - literal and metaphorical - launching across the pitch then you’d be sorely mistaken.
Why Is It Good?
Whilst people now know him as badass Jarvis/The Vision in Age of Ultron, it’s nice to remember our British actor started out so humbly in these films. Here, he has great chemistry, not only with Dunst, but with the screen. Despite his wealthy background, you immediately engage with Colt and that follows throughout the film. What works marvellously is the dialogue that flows with this cheeky natural flare and feels less like a way to sandwich in the plot and more of an eloquent realistic conversation that you’d have with one another. It’s a smartly done script played greatly by our two leads. And, well, as I opened my entire article with him it would be remiss of me not to say how aces James McAvoy is in this as younger brother Carl who shags and bets around. Wehey.
Wimbledon may not be a triumphant film but it certainly hits points within the lines. Though there is no great racket, it’s a heart-warming movie that’ll charm you a lot more than the sporting event ever would. When it rains this summer, make sure you pop this on.
Or, you know, wait for it come on to ITV2 as it’ll do repeatedly during this July’s event.