Format: DVD
Žanr: Komedija
Poreklo: Strani

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Richard Loncraine. The film centers on a washed-up tennis pro named Peter Colt (played by Paul Bettany) and an up-and-coming tennis star named Lizzie Bradbury (played by Kirsten Dunst) during the Wimbledon Championships.

The film is dedicated to Mark McCormack, who died on 16 May 2003 after suffering cardiac arrest four months earlier.

Plot

Peter Colt (Paul Bettany), an English professional tennis player in his thirties whose ranking has slipped from 11th to 119th in the world, considers that he never really had to fight for anything as his wealthy, but not close, family easily put him through studies and allowed him to pursue his tennis ambitions. He bravely exchanges jokes with his German sparring partner Dieter Prohl (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who is in a similar position. Though he earns a wildcard spot to the Wimbledon tournament, he internally feels that it`s time to admit he`s getting too old to compete with fitter coming men (or boys) and intends, after this last Wimbledon, to take a job with the prestigious tennis club instead.

However, as Wimbledon begins, by accident, he bumps into Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), the American rising star of female tennis, falls in love with her and finds her interest in him changes his entire perception, even gives him the strength to win again. As their love grows, Peter`s game becomes better and better, but her game starts worsening as she spends too much time with Peter, ignoring her practice and tiredness. However, her overprotective father-manager Dennis Bradbury (Sam Neill) proves determined to nip their relationship in the bud, believing it detrimental to her career. One day, Dennis comes to Peter’s old flat and yells at him for spoiling his daughter`s game. She overhears this and decides to leave him and focus on her game.

Both of them play several matches with different opponents and win. But without Lizzie’s support, Peter`s confidence and concentration start to shake. Lizzie reaches the semi-finals while Peter also manages to reach the semi-finals but with difficulty. The night before their semi-final matches, Peter sneaks into Lizzie’s hotel room and persuades her to have sex. Initially, she denies as she requires more rest and sleep for her semi-final game next morning, but later on agrees to. Next day, he performs quite well and wins his semi-final match in straight sets, whilst Lizzie loses her match due to lack of sleep and losing her focus after her night with Peter. Lizzie gets upset and breaks their relationship while accusing his madness and last-night greed for sex as cause for loss of her match, her dreams and perhaps her career too. She leaves before he can say or explain anything and decides to immediately return to the USA.

Peter has to play the final match against Jake Hammond (Austin Nichols), an arrogant American star who Peter has already had an argument with involving Lizzie, but finds himself outclassed. At the airport, Lizzie watches an interview on TV in which Peter apologizes to her and declares his love for her openly. She drops her idea to go home, and comes back to Wimbledon.

Before Lizzie reaches the stadium, Peter has already lost two sets and is behind in the third due to the fast and forceful tricky serves by Jake. He has lost all of his focus due to the breakup with Lizzie. Before the match is interrupted by rain, his back muscles get stressed and he has started thinking about retiring from the match rather than face a sure defeat. Suddenly, Lizzie comes to him in the dressing room and tells him that she has forgiven him, and prepares him to play and face the fate rather than quit. She tells him the secret about Jake’s tricky serves. With Lizzie cheering him on, Peter makes a recovery in the match and wins the title (3–6, 2–6, 6–4, 7–6(8–6), 6–4) with a diving volley. After the match he retires from tennis. He and Lizzie get married, and with his support, Lizzie goes on to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon twice, ultimately achieving her dreams. In the last scene, Peter is with their youngest child, a boy, watching Lizzie and their eldest child, a girl, playing tennis together on a neighborhood court in New York City.

Directed by Richard Loncraine
Produced by Tim Bevan
Eric Fellner
Liza Chasin
Mary Richards
Written by Adam Brooks
Jennifer Flackett
Mark Levin
Starring Paul Bettany
Kirsten Dunst
Sam Neill
Jon Favreau
Austin Nichols
Music by Edward Shearmur
Cinematography Darius Khondji
Edited by Humphrey Dixon
Production
company StudioCanal
Working Title Films
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date(s)

17 September 2004
24 September 2004 (United Kingdom)

Running time 98 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English