Cady's Take:

Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) is the ultimate underdog. Currently ranked 118th in the world of tennis he somehow ends up being the wild card player in Wimbledon . A mistaken hotel room number leads him to American female tennis player Lizzie Bradbury. The two immediately click, but while this newfound love has Peter's luck rising in the tournament, Lizzie's falters. Lizzie's overly protective father thinks their relationship is a distraction, so tension is high to keep the affair under wraps.  This leads through the generic clichés on a collision course towards a happy ending.

The plot isn't what made this film good. The tennis scenes, except for the final match are actually somewhat of a bore. It's the characters that make it work, especially Bettany. He is extremely likeable and has shown he can carry a movie with ease. He is terrific, charming and charismatic. Bettany was cast perfectly for this part. Bettany = superstar!

A must mention: There is a strong comic support from Jon Favreau as his opportunistic agent who suddenly reappears as Colt starts to win matches. Love this guy!

Basically in the end we ask - Will Peter win both Wimbledon and the heart of Lizzie? I am sure that the finale isn't surprising to even the most nonsensical of viewers. Wimbledon is simple and sweet.

Paul Bettany and Kirsten Dunst have a real on-screen chemistry, and that shines through in director Richard Loncrain's " Wimbledon ". I really am not a tennis fan at all, but I think if matches on television were edited like this movie, I might like it a great deal more. The matches are exciting and both Bettany and Dunst are believable - she as a precocious rising American tennis star, he as a British player whose star is fading and is close to retirement.

Besides the fact that Paul Bettany has some serious sex appeal, his turn as Peter Colt was unexpectedly funny - in fact, " Wimbledon " was laugh-out-loud funny in a few parts. It's always entertaining to see British cultural attitudes juxtaposed against American attitudes in a film, but Peter and Lizzie (Dunst) have real conversations, and acknowledge their relationship has "real" problems and not just "movie" problems. Sam Neill ( Jurassic Park ) plays Lizzie's overprotective tennis-father, but their relationship is convincing.

I will admit - the first half of the movie is better than the second. " Wimbledon " goes paint-by-numbers on us at the end, but it is still a satisfactory ride. Does Peter win Wimbledon ? Does Lizzie? Rent it and find out.