Tennis flick serves up routine comedy

Working Title Films must have some sort of template they follow when making movies. The British-toned romantic comedy maker that brought us "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill" just released its newest clone, "Wimbledon," and it's safe to say it's not a far stretch from the three previous films. \nThe same American-girl-meets-charming-British-boy scenario that's played out in Working Titles' other films (OK, so Renee Zellweger isn't American in "Bridget Jones," but she is in real life), is copied again in "Wimbledon." Just throw in some crisp whites, tennis balls and appearances by John McEnroe and Chris Evert, and you have yourself a new movie!\nThis new movie centers around Peter Colt, a once top-tier, but now near has-been in the world of professional tennis, who lucks out by scoring a wild card spot to play in the prestigious Wimbledon tournament. As luck (and Working Title Films) would have it, Peter mistakenly meets American tennis player Lizzie Bradbury, a fiery star slated to win Wimbledon. \nIn between Lizzie and Peter's climb through the Wimbledon tournament, Lizzie shows that American girls really are sluts when she invites Peter to shag before matches, a superstition she has to get her to play better. Being the loser in tennis and in love that Peter is, he happily agrees. Who wouldn't want to sleep with the star player?\nIn true romantic-comedy fashion, their love grows from sleeping together to something more (because that happens so much in real life!), and soon the two are wondering how to balance Lizzie's overbearing daddy, the media (those jerks) and the love of the game to make their love work. \nAnd just like a Working Title film, they've thrown in a cooky British sidekick (think Spike in "Notting Hill"), a few strolls through beautiful London and that moment when the guy says just the right thing just when the girl is about to give up on him. Watch any of the four and you'll see it. Promise. \nIt's not a sports movie, not even a little bit. Sure, the camera angles are top-notch and there are some wonderful scenes of play, but let's face it, ladies, there's no convincing your boyfriend he'll get something out of this movie. There were eight men at the showing I went to (all with a girl), and I'm sure they weren't the ones that chose to see this. \nBut don't think this cookie-cutter isn't worth a visit to the nearest theater, especially for tennis fans and females. Or is that only for tennis fans and females? Yes, only. \nSo, view at your own risk, but there might just be déja vu involved.