PG-13
Starring: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Elizabeth Shue, Sarah Silverman, Alan Cumming,
Jessica McNamee and Bill Pullman
Running Time: 2 Hours and 1 Minute
Do you remember all the way back to 1973 and the rollicking tennis rivalry between Billy Jean King and Bobby Riggs? The date was officially September 20th 1973 when the exhibition match dubbed the "Battle Of The Sexes" took place at the Houston Astrodome.
This movie is based on that story. It tells of the circumstances that led up to that infamous tennis match.
Billy Jean King (Emma Stone) is in her top form as one of the very best female tennis players in the world. She and British Tennis superstar Margaret Court (Jessica McNamee) have their own rivalry going on for the title of best female tennis player.
When 55 year old washed up ex-men's champion Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) tries relentlessly to persuade Billy Jean to verse him in an exhibition match, she is not interested. He continues to try and convince her otherwise with no avail.
This movie delves into their individual personal lives and that helps to set the stage for this story.
This all took place during the women's movement and the sexual revolution of the 70's.
Billy Jean is a 29 year old married woman who is constantly on the road and away from her husband Larry (Austin Stowell) . When she is getting her hair done by a new hairdresser, Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) Marilyn takes a very personal interest in her and they develop a friendship. Billy Jean invites Marilyn to one of her big tournaments in San Diego, and Marilyn decides to attend. One thing leads to another and they begin a lesbian relationship.
On the other hand, Bobby Riggs is struggling with his own personal demons of gambling and trying to re-invent himself. He is also having marital issues with his wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue) and she is becoming tired of his shenanigans.
That is the basis for one of the most watched sporting events ever with record 90 million viewers worldwide and the rest is history!
I liked this movie, I enjoyed watching their stories and how the "Battle Of The Sexes" officially came to be. I did take issue with the lesbian scenes. It seemed to me that it was highlighted a lot and it made me uncomfortable! It also showed Bobby Riggs posing nude (You can't see anything but you get the idea) for a magazine.
Parents be advised: This movie is rated PG-13. I would recommend children ages 13 and above for this one, maybe even older. There are some suggestive lesbian scenes with brief partial nudity and also brief male partial nudity. Some mild profanity and some misogyny.
I am giving "Battle Of The Sexes" two bags of popcorn.
