looking for a good rom-com? try wimbledon

Romantic comedies get a bad rap, probably because there are so many mediocre ones. But a good romantic comedy, done right, can be very good indeed. Wimbledon, a film starring Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst, from 2004, uses a lot of standard rom-com tropes — the mis-matched couple, the meet-cute, the misunderstanding, the seemingly insurmountable obstacle to their eventual couplehood — but somehow makes them all work, thanks to a winning cast and the exciting back-drop of the championship tennis matches.

Bettany plays Peter Colt, an British tennis player who was once ranked 11th in the world. He is now 119th and finds himself at what he is sure will be his last Wimbledon tournament as a wildcard. He is sad about his status and eventual future as a tennis instructor, but he also seems to be making peace with himslef, thanks in part to his friendship with German tennis player Dieter Prohl (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, of Game of Thrones fame), who is in a similar position. But everything changes for Peter when he meets American rising tennis star Lizzie Bradbury (Dunst), whose frank admiration and take-charge manner pull him out of his self-pitying rut. The two hit it off instantly:

Lizzie, "Where do you come down on the whole 'fooling around before a match' issue?"
Peter, "Well, that's a very intriguing question ..."
Lizzie, "'Cause I think a little fooling around can be really good for your game. You know, help you relax."
Peter, "Um, I'm not sure I've done enough reasearch to have a definitive opinion."
Lizzie, "That's very sad."
Peter, "Yes, it is, isn't it."
Lizzie, "It is ... very sad ..."
Peter, "Don't get me wrong, I'm ... very interested in doing the necessary research. Very intered in in doing the necessary research. Are you?"
Lizzie, "I'm interested."

Peter is not only swept away by Lizzie's magnetism and his new romance; her pragmatism and confidence about the game of tennis have an effect on him too, and he starts winning matches. The course of their affair does not run smooth however, as Lizzie's celebrity attracts a lot of media attention and her coach/manager/father (Sam Neill) wants the two to call a halt to things as he suspects that this relationship may not be one of Lizzie's usual "tension relievers" and might distract her from their main goal — to win Wimbledon.

Tennis fans will be thrilled to see cameos of some of the sport's biggest stars. John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Mary Carillo, and John Barrett all play match commentators, while Vikas Punna, Beti Sekulovski, Murphy Jensen, Alun Jones, and Rebecca Dandeniya also play small parts. Peter's loving but distant family also provides a good deal of comic relief — Eleanor Bron and Bernard Hill as his parents, and James McAvoy as his brother Carl, who rushes to place a bet against his brother at match time. Filling out the cast are Celia Imrie, Jon Favreau, and Robert Lindsay.

Wimbledon flips our expectations by having Lizzie the aggressor and then flips them again and then again as their relationship proceeds. What at first seems like a standard A Star is Born set-up turns into something else. Who is in power? Does anyone have an agenda? Can two athletes really fall in love during a tournament? The film also ramps up the excitement in its filmed tennis sequences — the ultimate victory match is both intense and involving — a real nailbiter. But what really makes Wimbledon work is the chemistry between its two leads and their off-kilter romance. Definitely worth a look.

dear angelina and johnny

So sorry it has taken me so long to write, but as a busy single mom I don't always get the opportunity to see movies first-run. I was finally able to catch your film, The Tourist, on-demand the other night and just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it. It was a fun, even silly at times thriller, much in the vein of the old Audrey Hepburn/Cary Grant movie Charade, or another Cary Grant film, Alfred Hitchcock's To Catch A Thief. I'm not sure why critics when it first came out were so hard on the film. Is it possible that they weren't able to catch the old movie references?

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was a top production, not just in the settings and costumes and beautiful cinematography by John Seale, but with supporting roles that were filled by some of my favorite actors — Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany, Timothy Dalton. The city of Venice, one of the most magical places any tourist could ever visit, was just as lovely to look at as the movie's top stars, if you don't mind my saying so.

In another fun twist, for fans of Angelina's action movie persona, her character of Elise was intelligent and daring, but not her usual optimum physical specimen. In other words, Angelina does not kick major ass, but has to resort to cunning and Venetian canal putt-putt motorboats to effect the rescue of the seemingly out-of-his-league tourist played by Johnny. She still appears to have one up on the hero, but it's not because she is an action hero this time out.

There were many fun little details, such as Johnny's clueless tourist speaking Spanish to everyone in Italy. It was cringeworthy in a good way. The costumes worn by Angelina, mostly designed by Colleen Atwood, were extraordinary. It was nice to see her as a bit of a clothes horse in a movie for a change. Johnny looked dapper too, a bit like Bogie in Casablanca in one scene, when he walked in wearing a white dinner jacket.

No matter what the critical consensus would have you believe, the movie was financially far from a flop. Maybe it was a quickly-filmed romp, but what's wrong with that? Not all movies have to be megahits like Johnny's Pirates series or Angelina's Salt. The Tourist is a fun little film, and one you should both be proud to have on your resumes. Next time you have a break between blockbusters, you might consider filming together again. Topkapi seems ripe for a remake ...