Romantic comedy clichés ad nausea. (spoilers)

Rating: 2/10 (1 March 2006)

For the longest time, I was interested in seeing this. But when I finally got around to watching it, I could not have been more bored with what I saw. This was absolutely a by-the-book romantic comedy, and to the point that there is entirely no chemistry and no real substance. It is as though the characters know what should happen each and every point along the way and that, aware the things will end in that she-loves-me, she-loves-me-not, way, react accordingly to their predetermined outcomes. Right down to the very end with children, winning future tennis competitions (twice), and living happily ever after. Can't Hollywood come up with anything creative anymore? This seems to fit the allotted roles of almost any mainstream romantic comedy to be released in the last five years at least. The same thing gets played out again and again and again. Although, here, it could not be done with less soul and charisma.
The story is that of Paul Bettany as a mildly ranked tennis player who is competing in Wimbeldon in what he expects to be his last game. He is an aging player and, as said before, not a particularly highly rated one. He doesn't quite have the emotional support, either, I suppose, what with his kooky family (think of his brother as the John Rhys Meyers type of Notting Hill--comedic relief, but a bit less vulgar) and his absentee agent. But, lo! He meets the rather forward American women's champ (Kirsten Dunst) who gets him to loosen up and of course, they fall in love, much to the chagrin of her overbearing typical sports parent (Sam Neil struggling with an American accent) who wants her to avoid distractions in concentration (think John Mahoney in Say Anything, but without such a miserable finale). And yada, yada, yada, you can probably guess from beginning to end how the movie will ensue.
I am not so elitist when it comes to romantic comedies, enjoying some of what might be consider the more cheesier ones from time to time. But this movie plays out so entirely by-the-book, that it lacks an flavor that might keep someone entertained.