Failing relationships, can they ever become love-love? (Wimbledon (DVD))

Member Name: angiebabyqueen

Product:	Wimbledon (DVD)
Date:	18/02/06 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a brilliant chick flick with comedy added in, perfect for chick flick lovers

Disadvantages: Kirsten Dunst's performance in the film isn't her usual standards

Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany star in a film, from the makers of love actually, Notting hill and Bridget Jones’ diary. Seeing as I loved all of these films, then I thought I might as well try this film as well. And so far, I haven’t regretted it. I watched this film last night for the sixth time, and I thought it rocked. Kirsten didn’t really play the character as well as she could have I don’t think. She did well in the acting in some places, but in others, she really could have done better, but overall, they pulled the acting off, and Paul performed his best acting, and I think he was the actor who stood out the best within this film. The only thing is, is I have never heard of this actor before, so it’s good to see a new face in the acting world now and again.

*the story*

So you’re a star in Wimbledon, you’ve got this far so you must be pretty good. Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst) has her first Wimbledon game matches, and she’s good, especially with a control freak of a dad egging her on all the way. But then we have Peter Colt, who has a last Wimbledon match before he retires. He was once ranked eleventh in the world for the best tennis players. Being his last Wimbledon, he needs something to back him up, to make him the best, even if he doesn’t win the whole tournament, as long as he gets to a semi final, or somewhere where he isn’t humiliated like the last few tournaments, then he’ll be happy.

The story starts off with us seeing what Peter’s lifestyle is like. He has a brother deeply into cycling and betting against Peter, as Peter usually loses. Then there are Peter’s parents. Both his mum and dad have had marriage problems for the last few years, and can’t seem to work through them. His dad even ends up moving his stuff into the tree house to get away from Peter’s mother.

The next couple of scenes, we see peter checking into his hotel room, except the hotel give him the wrong room number, and guess where he ends up magically? Yes you guessed right, in Lizzie’s hotel room, and thing is, is she’s just got out the shower. He realises he made a mistake, makes a hurried excuse and leaves, to get to the right room. Lizzie knows who Peter is however, having watched some of his tournaments before, but Peter doesn’t realise who she is until he watches a press conference on TV. We then see Peter training for his next tournament, and Lizzie ends up joining him. They bet each other fish and chips, if they can’t hit a small tennis tube tin on target. Peter loses the bet to Lizzie and has to treat her to fish and chips one night. Just as they finish their conversation, Lizzie’s father comes along, taking Lizzie away.

The matches at Wimbledon then start. Peter is losing in his game, and Lizzie has just finished winning her game. She sits at the top of the stairs, cheering Peter on, and miracle of miracles, peter starts to win his game. Could having someone behind you that you like improve your game plan?

That night, peter buys Lizzie fish and chips, and they end up on her hotel room balcony, eating them and watching a comet not seen for 67 years. The next day, Peter then wins his match after Lizzie ends up there, cheering peter on.

A few nights later, both Lizzie and Peter end up at the same tennis member’s party. Jake, another American tennis player fancies Lizzie and can’t stand the fact that she is flirting madly with an English man, Peter. He makes assumptions, and ends up insulting the pair of them, which causes peter to lash out and hit him. Both Peter and Lizzie run out of the party, and end up at Peter’s flat down at Brighton. They spend two nights together, going out for a run in between, and watching the comet once again. But when Lizzie’s dad finds out, and comes down to the flat to collect her, disaster strikes. Lizzie’s concentration begins to lack in the game every time she sees Peter, and Lizzie’s dad doesn’t like it. Peter has to stop seeing her until the tournaments are over, or Lizzie will lose.

There’s much more traumas and events to follow after all this has happened, and this isn’t even halfway through the story it’s that good.

But then again, if he stops seeing Lizzie then he will lose his games, and his whole career is over without even having won Wimbledon in his entire time in the tennis world. If he stops losing as well, his brother becomes unhappier because he won’t have a girlfriend anymore, because she’s using him due to being related to Peter Colt. If peter wins Wimbledon, could his parent’s marriage ever be fixed, or is it going to be forever broken. And can peter wait that long to be with Lizzie as by the time Lizzie’s father arrives on the scene, the both of them have pretty much fallen in love. Can they really get on with not seeing each other for a few weeks for Lizzie’s career sake? A love torn apart by forbidding parents can make love stronger or weaker, and in life, especially nowadays, it seems that money is more important than love. This film is a perfect example, that today especially in Britain, that money and career usually comes before families, or the person you love, and whether this can actually work out this way.

*quotes*

(after having had an argument again with Peter’s mother)
Peter’s dad: you know I told you that tennis is a man’s game?
Peter: Yes
Peter’s dad: bu***cks. Total bu***cks. Everything I’ve ever said, total bu***cks.

Peter: switching on the TV news reports) It’s incredible how much that actor looks like your dad… (Noticing the building he’s standing outside is Peter’s flat) incredible how much that building looks like….
Peter and Lizzie: S**T!

*Soundtrack*

The music within the whole film is brilliant, all slushy love songs to go wit the whole film, and suit each moment in the piece in which it is played. If you see this film over again, I would imagine that you would start singing along with the words – just like me.

-My favourite songs in the piece to sing along to and watch the scene fixatedly.

This years loving – David Gray
Caught in a moment – Sugarbabes

*DVD extras*

-Welcome to the club
-Ball control
-Coach a rising star
-Audio commentary
-Wimbledon: take a look inside.

These all sound like tennis related extra’s, so for anyone who enjoys watching tennis in the summer, I advise you to watch these. The only thing I have watched on the extra’s, is the audio commentary and the ball control, and it’s amazing how much work goes into a filming set, even in Wimbledon because the actors and actresses within the filming set (well the majority anyway) can’t really play tennis pro, and so need extra help. These parts are interesting to watch, but taking a look inside Wimbledon is not something that intrigues me to watch, but like I say, enjoy watching tennis in the summer while it’s on TV, then I advise this film to you for not only the film, but the extra’s as well.

Overall, this is a fantastic chick flick, and I would recommend it for any woman, who likes chick flicks, or if you are a male, and want a movie to rent for your girlfriend, wife or partner to snuggle up to you for the evening. It has moments of comedy in it, moments of slushy love scenes, and moments of seriousness. It teaches people that in the end we all have to make a choice as to what we do in life. To choose between your heart and love, or between your career and money. I give this film a nine and a half out of ten due to Kirsten’s acting being a little rusty within this film, and not as good as some of her other films such as bring it on.

Availability: Amazon from £3.33 used and new or £6.97. Also available at HMV from around £6.99.

Rating: 12 for infrequent strong swearing and moderate sex scenes.
Timing: 1hr 34 minutes

www.universalpictures.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Angiexxx copyright 2006

Summary: Like chick Flicks? Need a romantic comedy?Like tennis? Love this film then.