Battle of the Sexes

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: September 22, 2017

6.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 152 Ratings

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Rebecca31Nov 28, 2017

I'm not a fan of tennis or most sport to be honest and it's a rare thing to get a tennis movie but in 2017 we've gotten two, Borg vs McEnroe and Battle of the Sexes. Borg vs McEnroe was filled with suspenseful and energetic tennis matches andI'm not a fan of tennis or most sport to be honest and it's a rare thing to get a tennis movie but in 2017 we've gotten two, Borg vs McEnroe and Battle of the Sexes. Borg vs McEnroe was filled with suspenseful and energetic tennis matches and rigorous training sessions so there's a definite possibility that it affected my expectations for Battle of the Sexes but for a tennis movie I was expecting just a little more tennis.
The 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell). Stone and Carell really make this movie, they're brilliant absolutely perfect casting. Focusing mostly on the life of Billie Jean King, gender equality and equal pay for women. The story definitely drags in the middle but it's entertaining where it counts. A terrific performance from Emma Stone in an otherwise forgettable movie. With Borg vs McEnroe not only did I enjoy tennis but it made me want to watch it whereas Battle of the Sexes reminded me why I don't watch tennis. I was bored. The entire movie was building towards this dramatic ending and thankfully when it finally arrives it does not disappoint. A lukewarm recommendation.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Compi24Oct 10, 2017

"Little Miss Sunshine" co-directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton blast us back to the past with "Battle Of The Sexes," a period drama that coasts smoothly on the backs of its two, incredible lead performances, but also falters in trying"Little Miss Sunshine" co-directors Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton blast us back to the past with "Battle Of The Sexes," a period drama that coasts smoothly on the backs of its two, incredible lead performances, but also falters in trying to spread itself a bit too thin narratively, thematically, and in terms of perspective. Its heart is most definitely in the right place though, and even with its overly serious take on everything involved with the 1973 match in question, its the earnestness of it all that ultimately makes it all watchable in the end.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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FedorkoNov 13, 2017

This movie was predictable. Steve Carell had a mediocre performance, but Emma Stone did pretty well. The script made me laugh out loud at points that were supposed to be serious. I believe that if you make the villain sympathetic, or allowThis movie was predictable. Steve Carell had a mediocre performance, but Emma Stone did pretty well. The script made me laugh out loud at points that were supposed to be serious. I believe that if you make the villain sympathetic, or allow yourself to understand where a character is coming from, you've accomplished the hardest goal as a filmmaker. Bill Pullman was so one-dimensionally evil, it made the movie unrealistic. The movie was sterile, safe and didn't have a message that made people think. It's a movie for the liberal echo-chamber. Don't see this movie, it'd be supporting the wrong kind of Hollywood movie: the bland one.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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saintdeckyOct 16, 2017

Battle of the Sexes is a break-neck paced, long, basic movie, with great casting and some good performances. But I couldn't help but feel disappointed, despite not even having any expectations for this movie in the first place. It's nowhereBattle of the Sexes is a break-neck paced, long, basic movie, with great casting and some good performances. But I couldn't help but feel disappointed, despite not even having any expectations for this movie in the first place. It's nowhere near a terrible movie, just nothing special or anything that grabbed my attention.

Acting: The casting was perfect, as Emma Stone and Steve Carell look exactly like Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. They brought some good charm to the otherwise confusing bag of emotions throughout the film, which I will get into. Carell and his portrayal of Riggs is the best thing to come out of this movie. Every time he steps into a scene, he brings so much charm and joy. The movie wasn't funny to me overall, and Riggs wasn't especially hilarious, but he did bring the only laugh I had during the entire movie.

Pacing: The pacing is very fast paced. I don't have a problem with this, but the issue arose when it came to emotions. Things would happen so fast that I just started feeling sad in a scene, and two minutes later it's happy again and feels like a completely different movie. The scenes were too quick to completely comprehend the emotion most of the time. There were also times when I had no idea who a character was. Margaret Court just shows up, and I didn't even realize it was her until she was about to play. The movie is also very long despite its fast pacing, reaching 2 hours. I never thought such a fast paced movie could bore me, but this movie certainly did.

Humor: Towards the beginning, the movie is clearly trying to be funny, but does die down a bit and relies more on charm as the movie drones on. However, I didn't find it funny. The way the jokes were written were subtle, which is fine, but subtle to a point where it would only be funny if you knew or were friends with the joke teller.

Plot: This movie suffered from the same thing as Sully: the lack of a natural villain. Jack Kramer was the closest thing they had to a villain, so that was the best they could do, making nothing feel at stake or intense. Another big thing is that this whole story doesn't make for a great movie in the first place. The whole final match versus the two (which was the best part of the movie) was just a publicity stunt basically. So to make this into a movie, there is a lack of stakes, of intensity, and even of meaning, besides, obviously, the powerful statement of feminism and women's equality, of course. But otherwise, nothing was really at stake, as most audience members know this whole thing was just a joke. If everything else about King's and Riggs' lives that were going on at the same time were engaging and interesting, then it would be better, but the problem was that it wasn't. We get one short scene at the dinner table with Riggs' wife, who we don't see until another short scene later on, then she disappears and comes back at the end, and we're supposed to care about their marriage or whatever. We don't get to sympathize much with a man who is doing this whole thing as a joke. What I'm trying to say is, the main idea of the plot, the final game, doesn't make for a good movie, as there were no stakes and we know there are none. If the two players' stories outside of the game were more interesting, then it would be okay, but they weren't, because the movie was too fast paced to sympathize or feel for the characters, as there were too many emotions to feel in such short scenes.

Overall, Battle of the Sexes isn't necessarily a bad film, just not one that kept my attention or was interesting, no thanks to the whole idea not making a good film in the first place. Great casting and good acting, but simply too rushed in the end. And as I said, the final tennis match was the best part of the movie, mostly because I play tennis myself.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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AxeTOct 5, 2017

Not very funny nor very dramatic as mishandled by filmmakers obsessed with gay feminist agenda over the characters and event itself, delivering a treatment that is overwrought, over-long and drags. Steve Carell and Emma Stone are good, butNot very funny nor very dramatic as mishandled by filmmakers obsessed with gay feminist agenda over the characters and event itself, delivering a treatment that is overwrought, over-long and drags. Steve Carell and Emma Stone are good, but the fact there's more than one shot of an L.A. skyscraper not yet built for nearly two decades after the 1973 period depicted though granted a very small flaw is sloppy direction, photography and editorial for this level of production and indicative of the overall choices made.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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eagleeyevikingJan 4, 2018

Earnest and well acted but lacking intensity, "Battle of the Sesex" wears its heart up its sleeve but can't help feel thin and predictable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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JLuis_001Dec 28, 2017

Considering what I thought it would deliver, without a doubt, Battle of the Sexes turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments I've had this year, not only it's pretty boring during its first hour because absolutely nothing ofConsidering what I thought it would deliver, without a doubt, Battle of the Sexes turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments I've had this year, not only it's pretty boring during its first hour because absolutely nothing of relevance happens, but especially because what it had to be the film's strength becomes only its punchline and most of the film is inclined to be a romantic story and that isn't something necessarily negative but at first the film annouced one thing and ended up going into a different direction, and that was incredibly disappointing.

Emma Stone is too restrained and it's a shame because she could have gone further with the character, while Steve Carrell seems to be in automatic mode of being the douchebag who thinks he's funny when it's merely obnoxious, what a waste. Only Sara Silverman and Andrea Riseborough are the ones who seem to be acting naturally and comfortably.

I wouldn't say people should avoid it, they may find something more interesting in it, but for what I expected, Battle of the Sexes is nothing more than an anecdotal recreation of a real life event.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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