Why King Richard’s Reviews Are So Positive
King Richard, starring Will Smith as Venus and Serena Williams’ father, has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics – here’s why.
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Biopic King Richard has generated primarily positive reviews from critics, largely praising the performance of Will Smith, and here’s why. The movie paints a portrait of the divisive figure Richard Williams (Smith), father to professional tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams (Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton). The November 2021 movie’s true story documents the early years of Serena and Venus, showing how their father strategically and unconventionally raised two incredibly talented athletes that would profoundly impact the world of tennis and sports culture.
At the time of writing, King Richard holds a fresh score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, aggregated from 95 reviews. Sports biopics hold a special place in film, combining two equally poignant genres that, if executed correctly, can profoundly tug at the heartstrings of viewers and inspire generations to come. At 92 percent, King Richard has surpassed popular sports biopics like I, Tonya (90%) and 42 (81%), while falling along the lines with Ford v Ferrari (92%) and Billy Beane’s story, Moneyball (94%).
Biopics are inevitably subject to intense scrutiny by virtue of being centered on real-life figures, not to mention figures who still hold celebrity statuses today. The story of Serena and Venus Williams isn’t new to many viewers, nor is the presence of their coach/father, Richard. What sets King Richard apart in terms of its positive reviews is how warm and emotionally poignant the sports biopic is, as driven by its incredible lead performances. Here’s what the positive reviews have been saying.
New York Times:
“There is nothing haphazard or sloppy about “King Richard,” and it succeeds because it has a clear idea about what it wants to accomplish. The script, by Zach Baylin, is sometimes unapologetically corny… but the warmth and verve of the cast make the sentimentality feel earned.”
Rotten Tomatoes:
“King Richard transcends sport biopic formulas with refreshingly nuanced storytelling — and a towering performance from Will Smith in the title role.”
The Washington Post:
“Given the horror stories that abound about male coaches and female athletes, “King Richard” provides a welcome, wholesome flip side.”
Roger Ebert.com:
“Much will be made of Smith’s performance, which is excellent, and I’m hoping Ellis gets all the praise she deserves. But Sidney and Singleton should also be commended for their excellent work as Venus and Serena… because it’s the acting across the board that ultimately saves “King Richard.”
Variety:
“The vast majority of sports movies are about exceptional talent. “King Richard” is about exceptional belief: the conviction of one man, Richard Williams, that he could turn his daughters Venus and Serena into the world’s greatest tennis players. Hindsight makes this a story worth telling.”
LA Times:
“What we see on-screen is both rewardingly jagged and uncommonly thoughtful, an engrossing family drama that doubles as a sharp rethink of how a family operates within the overlapping, often overbearing spheres of race, class, sports and celebrity.”
Most reviews touch upon the creative tactics King Richard uses to tell the story: Using the parents to focus on the conviction of spirit rather than the exploitation or triumph of innate talent. While King Richard is a sports movie at its heart, the primary reason why critic reviews are leaning positive is the main actors’ performances. Fresh Prince star Will Smith, in his bid for a Best Actor Oscar, gives an enthralling performance as Richard Williams. Sports biopics largely rely on actors’ performances, and King Richard properly balances the talents of its cast from the tumultuous marriage of the Williamses to the budding stardom of young Venus and Serena. King Richard is a dramatic showcase of a family that, even amongst controversy and societal criticism, leaves viewers with a warmer, more optimistic view of the world and personal potential, which is a message and tone that has been extremely popular in recent media with the likes of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. Even though King Richard has been widely praised, however, there have still been some critical detractors. Here’s what some of King Richard’s negative reviews have been saying:
The Chicago Tribune:
“Richard’s rougher edges and harsher parenting and training impulses have been sanded down to a nice, smooth surface. That’s a shame, because Smith is not just a movie star. He’s an extremely savvy dramatic actor, who lets his natural comic ebullience energize all sorts of material.”
Thrillist:
“King Richard itself is too confused about its protagonist to create a compelling case as to why he should be the focus at all. Smith is caught at the center of that. Though he’s putting the full weight of his significant charm behind the characterization, it’s not quite enough to illuminate a puzzling figure.”
Slant Magazine:
“Indeed, in pushing back against the image of Richard Williams (Will Smith) as nothing but a greedy narcissist, the film smooths out nearly all of the man’s rough edges… the film excuses, if not outright ignores, the questionable tactics he used to push them toward greatness.”
While even the most negative reviews can’t help but give kudos to Will Smith’s performance as Richard Williams, the most common criticism is that King Richard’s script doesn’t allow Smith to go dark enough with the figure. While Williams is known for his unconventional approaches and determinism, he was also divisive for his controversial methods and demeanor. Keeping King Richard in a warmer light, the film lets this side of Williams sit below the surface, just simmering, without ever allowing Smith to bring out the deeply dramatic nuances of the character. As such, King Richard shows its main character is an egomaniac with a volatile unlikability, but also situates him as unimpeachable, thus weakening a rounded portrayal of its real-life anti-hero. While not allowing movie star Will Smith to explore the darker side of Williams may have detracted from a complete portrait of the man in question, King Richard is still a fresh, nuanced sports biopic that presents hope and heart for viewers.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/king-richard-movie-reviews-good-rotten-tomatoes-reason/