Battle of the Sexes

Emma Stone and Steve Carrell in Battle of the Sexes

Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton's Battle of the Sexes is a relative disappointment given the possibilities inherent in dramatizing the clash between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. Indeed, the carnivalesque nature of their tennis duel would seem to be right in the wheelhouse of the directors of Little Miss Sunshine. Emma Stone, Steve Carrell, Andrea Riseborough, Alan Cumming, Elizabeth Shue and Sarah Silverman are all well cast and give good performances. yet, the total effect is negligible. The script and direction effectively show the isolation of those engaged in individual sports, but the narrative is streamlined, mainly to promote Ms. King's status as a champion of feminism and LBGTQ rights, in such a fashion that robs it of any ambiguity or tension.

Jack Kramer and Riggs' coterie of tennis buddies are lumped together as straw men of the male chauvinist variety. This is fine as far as it goes, the film needs some king of porcine villainy, but it is indicative of the broad strokes the film uses. More damaging is the rose colored glasses approach to King's two loves: Larry King and Marilyn Barnett. Both had a hustler aspect to them that the film ignores. Instead, the film treats them with kid gloves, as if the filmmakers were loathe to offend Ms. King. This lack of nerve carries over to the portrait of Mr. Riggs who was, if anything, far more unsavory than the film portrays. Because its hagiography resembles that of Hollywood's golden age, Battle of the Sexes stands as a muffed opportunity. (3/20/18)