From Muhammad Ali to Nelson Mandela, Will Smith is practically born to play larger-than-life figures. At first glance, you might not think he was the natural fit to play Richard Williams, the unsung hero who raised tennis champions Venus and Serena. Cast your doubts aside - the star’s big personality and natural charisma prove a worthy match for a man who knocked down doors in the tennis world. Conflicted between the pitfalls of fame and the struggles of normal life, it’s a role that Smith grabs with both hands.
King Richard traces the story of Venus (Saniyya Sydney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) from humble beginnings in Compton, California. Working security shifts by night, Richard (Smith) trains the girls himself at a second-rate tennis court, as the threat of gang violence looms gloomily in the background.
Armed with an 85-point plan (‘if you fail to plan you plan to fail’) and a lot of nerve, we watch as several rich white men turn their back on the chance to coach two promising African-American girls - “have you tried basketball?”. But Richard doesn’t let that stop him, eventually catching the attention of tennis coach Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn) who is blown away by Venus and Serena’s talents.
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, the story appears to follow the course of a traditional crowd-pleasing sports movie, until it doesn’t. As the world begins to take notice of the rise of Venus, we’re treated to a fist-pumping montage of on-the-court whoopings that chart her rise to the top at junior level.
But this was never really a film about tennis. Zach Baylin’s thoughtful script places us in the well-worn tennis shoes of Richard as he wrestles with protecting the fate of his daughters, or letting them free to find their own happiness. Smith does a great job of selling this inner struggle, convincing both as the gentle father figure and the unwavering coach who refused to accept arrogance, or anything less than the best. Nailing Richard’s lisp and Louisiana accent, his knack for dropping jokes at inappropriate moments results in some of the biggest laughs of the film.
Despite a generous running time, this absolutely flies by. Part of this is down to the casting - the young cast who play the Williams daughters are a joy to be around. As well as capturing the carefree energy of growing up, Sydney and Singleton easily sell the drive and confidence of young women who know they are destined for great things. As the fast-talking tennis coach who has to play ball with Richard’s ever-growing demands, Jon Bernthal is a hilarious picture of exasperation. Aunjanue Ellis is also terrific in what could’ve been an underserved supporting role as Richard’s supportive wife, before knocking it out of the park in a vital scene late on.
As a result of the groundwork laid by its writing and cast, this is a film where every single emotional payoff feels earned. Case in point - the now viral moment where Richard berates an interviewer for questioning the confidence of a 14-year-old Venus should have you grinning from ear to ear.
Inspiring, heart-warming and full of impressive performances, King Richard is a grand slam of a movie.
“It’s hard to figure out what the end of your tennis career should look like. I used to think I’d want to retire when I have kids, but no. I’m definitely coming back. Walking out there and hearing the crowd, it may seem like nothing. But there’s no better feeling in the world. Obviously, if I have a chance to go out there and catch up with Margaret [Court], I am not going to pass that up. If anything, this pregnancy has given me a new power.”–Serena Williams
I had a great time making this illustration for Outside Magazine. It was featured in an article about this history of women’s hair in sports, which was included in their newsletter.
Designer and athlete Serena Williams speaks during the S By Serena Presentation during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Spring Place on February 12, 2020 in New York City
