[Rating: Rock Fist Way Up]
In theaters and on HBO Max until December 19.
I am in no way an expert on sports, let alone tennis. To be quite honest, outside of commercials and whenever they are in the headlines, I could not tell you much about sisters Venus and Serena Williams except that they are considered the best in the sport of tennis!
I assumed this film was about their lives, but it turned out to be about something more: family and the power of wanting that moment of glory through the eyes of a parent. King Richard does not necessarily focus on the complete lives of the sisters, but instead their father Richard Williams (Will Smith) and the focus, determination and hope he put into his daughters as they sought to earn the status of professional and greatest of all time.
Richard Williams pushes his daughters to be the best they can be, but still be kids at the end of the day. By making his girls Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) practice tennis during rainstorms where local gangs hang out and teaching his girls not to brag about their own accomplishments, he is both a tough life coach and father. When the chance of a lifetime comes around to train with professional coach Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn), Williams takes the chance, even if only Venus can train with a coach while Serena must train with her mom, Oracene Price (Aunjanue Ellis). When Williams wants his girls to make it to the professionals and skip the necessary steps it takes to actually go pro, he enlists Coach Rick Macci (Jon Bernthal) to coach Venus and help her go all the way.
Before Venus and Serena were born, it is said by Williams that he created a step-by-step instruction on how his children were going to be the great tennis stars they are today. His plan’s let the girls be kids all while focusing on the goal ahead to make a name for themselves in the sport. What sets this film apart from other biopics is the fact it is not painting Williams in a perfect light. Sometimes he pushed his daughters too hard, and though he would let them be kids, the price of their own happiness was always pushed aside for wanting to be at levels unachievable for their ages.
Smith’s performance seeks to tell a cautionary tale of parents who mean well, but sometimes push too far. To me, it is not what I am normally used to for Smith and that is alright with me! Yes, I know he has been in many dramas but it has been a hot second, and this turn as Williams is something fresh to see him giving the heart and soul of a father who only seeks the best.
King Richard truly is a remarkable feat that will have audiences cheering. It is an introductory course in the lives of the Williams sisters and their father. It had me cheering for the games they played, without knowing what the heck was happening, as long as they served the ball across the net and cheered for themselves.
Christian Ramos is a classic film fan, having had the dream to host Turner Classic Movies for years now. He also has a large amount of Oscar trivia in his head, remembers dressing as Groucho Marx one Halloween, and cherishes the moment Julianne Moore liked his tweet.
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