When Billie Beat Bobby

Rating PG Formats DVD Genre comedy Starring Holly Hunter, Ron Silver Directed by Jane Anderson Publisher Buena Vista Home External Links Buena Vista Home

In 1972, when female tennis players curtsied at the end of their matches and "feminism was still considered a dirty word," Billie Jean King was a breath of fresh air with her trademark glasses and no-nonsense demeanor. Ultimately, she raised the bar for women in sports and all over the world by winning a much-hyped, legendary match against veteran men's champ Bobby Riggs. Although the title of this competent made-for-TV film leaves no room for suspense, the road to its inevitable "battle of the sexes" is an entertaining, sympathetic one.

Based on interviews with King, When Billy Beat Bobby unfolds from her POV, highlighting her good-natured humor and graciousness in contrast to Riggs' bombastic, immature hustling and psych-out antics. To its credit, the film does much to humanize unapologetic chauvinist Riggs, painting him more as a pathetic has-been trying to recapture his elusive fame than a calculating, evil figure. Above all, the film shows the behind-the-scenes repartee and mutual respect between Billie (Holly Hunter) and Bobby (Ron Silver), infusing the action with a light, comic tone that may alienate the more serious feminist viewer. Nevertheless, though its approach is often glib, the film's message is heartfelt and still vital in this era of relative equality. Especially as King and her devoted fellow athletes were arguing for the equal pay that women still have yet to achieve.

Best of all, this engaging little memoir boasts the combined talents of Hunter and Silver. The spirited Hunter is at her bestïconvincing, likeable, and driven, with amazing biceps and a true athlete's physique. Likewise, Silver is delightfully obnoxious, condescending, and infuriating, the spitting image of Riggs with his shaggy sideburns, thick-framed glasses, and middle-aged paunch.

Some of the scenes leading up to the big match felt redundant and overly simplistic, with lots of down time devoted to the mutual heckling between King and Riggs so adored by the media. However, many moments are truly poignant and revealing, such as incidents of sexual harassment and women's powerlessness that stick with King and motivate her to consent to the match even though she considers it a farce.

Finally, the match itself is fantasticïa dynamic, suspenseful spectacle during which, even though you already know the outcome, you will still be riveted to the screen, hanging on every serve until the final moment of victory. My one complaint is that I would have enjoyed seeing some footage from the original match interspersed with the well-edited stunt performances. But, as a whole, When Billy Beat Bobby is a charming, feel-good feminist comedy that successfully portrays the lingering sexism of the early '70s and the monumental event that helped dismantle it.