★ 6 / 10
If you haven't seen the movie Wimbledon, watch that instead of this
MichaelByTheSea
My son was a nationally ranked tennis player before leaving the tournament circuit to go to college. As you might imagine, I've seen countless matches…
My son was a nationally ranked tennis player before leaving the tournament circuit to go to college. As you might imagine, I've seen countless matches, practices, and pro tournaments. Sadly, despite Venus Williams' connection as a producer, the tennis scenes in "Game, Set, Love" looked like they filmed some mediocre high school players in a gym.
Davida Williams (no relationship to Venus) plays coach Taylor and, after a clinic, she's shown working on her serve. Yikes. She gets no height on the ball, doesn't extend her body or arm up, and does little more than tap the ball across the net. And yet a woman "ranked top ten in doubles" comes up and says "killer serve" and tells a young girl that Taylor was "way better than me".
Uh, no.
Actually, that doubles player, Ashley Wong, played by Jennifer Khoe, is shown serving the ball with far better skill in a later scene. As for bad boy William Campbell (a fictional John McEnroe), played by the director's brother Richard Harmon (the 2 siblings were both in the long running sci-fi TV series " The 100") he just wasn't convincing as a tennis player. And instead of acting like the brat he was on court, he had a pleasant and affable personality that conveniently meshed with the very attractive Taylor. They had some fun banter and Willam actually had an insightful line about tennis player parents. When referring to the parents of the kids that Taylor coached, he called them "a bunch of people who put all their baggage and expectations onto their kids". I saw a lot of that. And I was probably guilty of that a bit myself.
But there were some weird moments. Why were they playing in the rain?? That's generally frowned on because of safety issues, shoe traction problems, and heavier wet balls that don't reflect match conditions. And during 12 years of tennis clinics, lessons, and matches, my son never once played in the rain.
Also, the big "Georgia Sun" tournament was likely a fake version of the Atlanta Open, which doesn't have mixed doubles. And even if it did, there wouldn't be TV coverage of it, let alone Tracy Austin.
Another reviewer commented about the scoreboard which inexplicably indicated that the "previous sets" were 4-2 and that the total "sets" were 3-1, games 2-1. Later, the scoreboard indicated that the "previous sets" were 4-6, 7-5, and 6-6 and that the total "sets" were 6-4, games 5-5. Huh?
The relationship between Taylor and her father was sweet, but the conflict between William and his parents didn't ring true. A player of William's stature doesn't get there without lots of parental emotional and financial support. And yet the father wanted him to join the restaurant business rather than play tennis? Really?
But I did buy the growing attraction between Taylor and William, and I loved the Lake House.
But the movie became all about their success on the court rather than off it. And the tennis just didn't seem remotely authentic. In fairness, sports movies are hard to do. They often seem fake unless there's a big budget. Wimbledon was a great tennis movie. This was not. But Hallmark did make at least one decent sport movie. Love on the Sidelines succeeded because it focused more on the off the field action. That's what they should have done here.
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★ 7 / 10
Enjoyable movie, cast ?
magagiorgia
I find it strange and annoying that only those who do not appreciate a film leave a review. I liked it, it's really amazing and funny in some moments. The two…
I find it strange and annoying that only those who do not appreciate a film leave a review. I liked it, it's really amazing and funny in some moments. The two leads are convincing. I find that Richard Harmon has given depth to his character and shows great comedy skills too. Davida Williams was perfect. She is so much in the character. I really loved her work and the chemistry the leads get to build between their characters. This Is a process though because the beginning is not easy at all. Perhaps someone could expect some more attention to the romantic side in a Hallmark movie, not that I missed it, but here there was really a lot to tell and various aspects of Taylor and Will's personal and sporting life to eviscerate. In my opinion, giving a 1 or 2 to such a film is ridicolous and outrageous of the work of the cast and crew. I would put a 10 to try and remedy but I will not be so unfair and let a more than deserved 7.
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★ 3 / 10
Wrong Casting
bumblefiction
Probably the least believable tennis movie I've seen. I did expect a bit specially the game scenes as this was co-produced by Venus Williams but was let down…
Probably the least believable tennis movie I've seen. I did expect a bit specially the game scenes as this was co-produced by Venus Williams but was let down with how it played out. My biggest issue with this is you're somehow supposed to convince me Richard Harmon with his very white skin and small build is a pro tennis player? Pro tennis players who generally have ridiculously jacked thighs and arms and olive skin tone from playing in the sun? His acting all throughout the movie was also a really big problem as I find it a bit too disinterested, I get that he is the 'bad boy' of tennis (?) but I think there's a difference between a hard headed character and a bored actor. I also wasn't convinced about the chemistry between the two actors, a Hallmark movie should be bursting with cheesiness and emotions and this one just felt too flat.
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80%
AUDIENCE
5.7/10
624
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A movie about trans interracial dating with a plot twist, and tennis.