'King Richard' Review: Venus and Serena Serve Aces In Heartfelt Biopic
“I’m in the champion raising business.”
Before their dozens of Grand Slam titles, eight Olympic gold medals and unfathomable international stardom, Venus and Serena Williams were just two girls from Compton, California, starting out on their long and winding road to greatness. The road in question, meticulously planned and crafted to the finest detail by their father/coach Richard Williams, is exactly what we see in Reinaldo Marcus Green’s latest sports biopic turned family drama, ‘King Richard’. It’s an inspirational story of hard work, perseverance, and proving that greatness can come from anyone, regardless of where they come from. The film hits a few familiar beats with its conventional structure and emotional monologues, but its abundance of heart and charm make it impossible not to be drawn into this electrifyingly heartwarming story.
At the heart of King Richard perhaps unsurprisingly, is the sisters’ father and tennis coach, Richard Williams (Will Smith). So if you’re hoping to see an in-depth account of Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena’s (Demi Singleton) respective tennis careers, you’re probably in the wrong place. King Richard instead attempts to examine and deconstruct the man who propelled them to fame, both recounting his story and asking some truly insightful questions about how success is achieved, and who can achieve it. It doesn’t shy away from the darker and more dangerous aspects of Richard’s life - raising a family in crime-fueled Compton, being held back in society because of his race, and the many, many rejections he faces from the American sports industry - but it equally celebrates his successes and the legacy that he leaves with his daughters. There’s an unwavering focus on family and solidarity that makes King Richard such a stirring crowd-pleaser throughout, with Richard and his wife Brandi’s (Aunjanue Ellis) complex but caring relationship being one of the film’s strongest assets when it comes to propelling its message forward. The entire cast is fantastic, and they bring these characters to life in a way that makes the film all that more engaging and fun to watch.
That being said, there’s nobody in this cast that shines quite as strongly as Will Smith. This certainly isn’t his first time proving that he’s more than capable of handling these heavier, more dramatic roles (The Pursuit of Happyness, Seven Pounds) but it’s still just as raw and moving as you’d expect. He perfectly captures every aspect of Richard Williams, and not just those that paint him in a good light. It’s an honest and transparent performance that elevates the film beyond its simplistic, somewhat formulaic narrative and into something that becomes impossible to look away from. His impeccable chemistry with his two on-screen daughters really sells the idea that we’re not just watching the flawless story of two instant superstars, but rather the story of a struggling, imperfect family who find success through each other - and that’s infinitely more captivating.
King Richard also marks a huge achievement for Reinaldo Marcus Green, whose directorial prowess is clear in every moment of the film. He manages to effectively blend the small-natured intimacy of this family and their love for each other with a much larger, grand-scale story of international stardom without one aspect ever feeling underdeveloped or out of place. His clear understanding of character and storytelling allow him to exert a new life into the studio biopic, a genre of film which has become so overpopulated and lifeless as of late. There are admittedly moments when the film begins to feel formulaic and falls into some of the genre’s typical pitfalls, but even this is outshone by the film’s pure enjoyment and charisma that comes with such a powerful story.
King Richard is exactly the kind of feel-good family movie that audiences are going to be craving after such a long and difficult year. It hits all the right beats to evoke that classic sense of excitement and intrigue, but never sacrifices the true message of family and perseverance at the heart of its story. It’s a narrative that’s bound to incite and inspire, and the film does this in a way that’s endlessly easy to watch. Even those who know nothing of Venus and Serena Williams, who know nothing of their background or successes, will find something to learn and enjoy through the film’s completely accessible approach to this story. King Richard might not be perfect, but if you’re willing to put down your notepads and allow yourself to just get swept up in the ride, you’ll be sure to lose yourself in this sensationally uplifting, feel-good adventure.