Movies based on true stories often struggle to impress me. I think this is mainly due to two interconnected issues: (1) minor knowledge of the true story can make the movie feel predictable or even boring; and (2) those elements of the movie that do manage to surprise often raise alarm bells as I instinctively assume that they are the result of creative liberties or embellishment at the very least (for example, the ridiculously coincidental sequence in which [spoiler] Will Smith intends to shoot his daughter's harasser right as the harasser is the victim of a drive by shooting [/spoiler] feels like pure Hollywood fiction). These issues are perhaps even more problematic when the true story is sport based, as sports movies have their own baggage in the form of numerous well worn tropes and clichés.

All of that said, the movie is far from bad. Will Smith plays the complicated father role well. The child actresses, which can often make or break a movie like this, all do a good job. I thought both coach relationships were interesting and well executed. Jon Bernthal in particular seemed to have a lot of fun in his role. There were also plenty of nice tennis history callouts/cameos that I was able to appreciate even as only a passive tennis fan. All in all, probably worth the watch for Will Smith fans, tennis fans, and certainly Venus/Serena fans.