Both actors immerse themselves in their roles not only emotionally but also physically. Meanwhile, Silver earns credit for being willing to look, well, downright goofy, donning a bad wig, bushy sideburns, thick glasses and fake crooked teeth to play the obnoxious and unattractive Riggs. The film opens with a quick peek into King's childhood. We see her mother and father scolding her for playing football with the boys and encouraging her to take up a more ladylike sport.
King settles on tennis, ultimately becoming one of the world's top players.
Women's tennis was drawing a huge following in the 1970s, but female players weren't raking in the kind of dough men were making. Incensed, King had no choice but to accept when Riggs challenged her to a match. The event was hyped to death, and some of this film's most humorous moments occur as Riggs is promoting the event. Almost 50 million viewers tuned in to watch when the duo finally squared off at Houston's Astrodome on September 20, 1973. But for those of you too young to have witnessed the event, this educational and entertaining film puts it in context, demonstrating how King became a feminist icon and brought respect to women's sports.