An English Fantasy

Rating: Null/10 (20 November 2004)

Over the decades, the British have been reduced to fantasizing about one of their own winning the Gentlemen's Singles at Wimbledon, which remains one of the great annual British occasions despite its domination by foreigners. (Not to disparage Lloyds of London investor Virginia Wade and others who've won the Ladies in recent decades).
Filmed at Wimbledon 2003, mostly on the "jinxed" Court Two, "Wimbledon" features a likable British player slightly past his sell-by date. Others from other countries are younger, stronger, hunkier, more popular, etc. The British love of the underdog is on display in this film as it is at the for-real Wimbledon tournament. (Not just Brits, too-- they cheered on no-hoper foreigners from Old Drob to Ivanisevic).
"Wimbledon" seems pitched to the American television viewer, as tennis fans in most other countries aren't likely to have gotten used to Chris Evert, Mary Carillo and John McEnroe as the sport's essential voices. In this film, though, lead actor Paul Bettany furnishes a more useful voice, off-screening his thoughts from start to finish. Few scripts now call for so much narration, but it works here.