This weekend we watched “King Richard,” a film about the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. The reviews for the film were excellent, and it’s available on HBO Max.
First, I want to give credit to the two young actors who play Venus and Serena, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. Not only is their acting great, but the tennis skills they showcased on film never had me doubting that they tennis stars.
The film mostly follows Richard (played by Will Smith), who creates an elaborate, multi-step plan to raise 2 daughters to become the best tennis players in the world. Having a plan is a major theme in the movie, a philosophy he tries to impart upon his 5 daughters.
Typically a plan like Richard’s would raise some huge red flags, as we’ve all seen what happens when overbearing parents try to leverage kids for fame and fortune. But, at least according to the movie, Richard does this with a high level of compassion and perception–he really seems to want his daughters to have fun. The biggest example of this is when he won’t let his daughters compete at junior-level tournaments for several years or go pro too early, as he’s seen what that type of pressure can do to a kid.
The movie shows the many obstacles Richard, Venus, Serena, and the rest of their family face while trying to execute the plan. They practice on a public court in Compton, in stark juxtaposition from the pristine country clubs where Richard tries to find a pro-bono coach.
The movie clocks in at nearly 2.5 hours, but the time flew by. I’d highly recommend King Richard–I learned a ton about how the Williams sisters got their start, and I learned a lot about discipline, perseverance, and fun. If you’ve seen it, what did you think?
