Paul Bettany stars as Peter Colt, a British tennis player coming to the end of an undistinguished career. Having slipped to a ranking of 119th, from the dizzy heights of being seeded 11th, he is granted a wild card entry into his final Wimbledon tournament.

Peter meets Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), a rising American star dubbed 'the bad girl of the tennis circuit'. Having arranged a date, he finds that her presence at his first match helps him to win. Lizzie's father (Sam Neill), who also happens to be her coach, disapproves of the relationship, but Peter feels he needs to be with Lizzie to continue his winning streak.

The scene is set for a typical romcom - will love triumph against the odds, will Lizzie's father stop being so over-protective, and most implausibly of all, will a Brit finally win Wimbledon? Filmed at SW19 during the 2003 tournament, the film features cameos from former tennis stars John McEnroe and Chris Evert.

Wimbledon has some good scenes, and is consistently funny. When Peter's mum complains that his dad suspects her of having an affair, he replies wearily, "Mum, he saw you snogging in the car park". Peter's first press conference is also a highlight, where he announces his imminent retirement just as the journalists spot someone more interesting and desert him.

The romance is convincing too, with real chemistry between the leads. Bettany reminds us of the comic talents he displayed so memorably in A Knight's Tale, and Dunst is appropriately driven in a slightly underwritten role. There's also a supporting role from Swingers' star Jon Favreau, while Bernard Hill and Eleanor Bron excel as Peter's bickering parents.

Wimbledon does suffer from the lack of Curtis's sparkling dialogue, but is nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy. It may not be as good as Love Actually, but very few romantic comedies are.

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