Break Point (2014) currently has an audience score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, which falls below my usual threshold for investing time in a movie. However, since it is a tennis film, it automatically becomes compulsory viewing for me. This film follows a familiar redemption arc centered around two brothers who are each lost in their own way, reconnecting through a final attempt at professional doubles glory.
The story unfolds with Jimmy Price (Jeremy Sisto), a volatile former pro whose career has cratered under the weight of his own behavior, convincing his mild-mannered brother Darren (David Walton) to partner with him for one last shot at the big time. J.K. Simmons also appears as Jack, a father figure whose gruff support and sage advice are the emotional anchor of the story. However, Simmons’ most recognizable role these days is as the dry comedic spokesman in commercials for Farmers Insurance. It was impossible for me to see him without hearing the jingle echoing in my head. In fact, people who are committed to watching this film could leverage that reaction into a drinking game where everyone has to sing “We are Farmers, duh d-dut tuh duh di tuh” and take a drink every time Simmons appears on screen.
While the heart of the film is a story of fractured family ties and second chances, several subplots are distracting. Most notably, Darren’s unlikely friendship with an eleven-year-old boy named Barry remains technically wholesome but lands awkwardly by today’s standards. Many of their interactions would fall well outside current USTA SafePlay guidelines, and a few of the decision points are uncomfortable to watch from a modern perspective.
Then there’s the tennis. The on-court sequences are, at best, uninspired. The filmmakers invented a “Pre-Qualies” tournament, which is a stage of competition that doesn’t exist anywhere in the sport. Even if it did, the strokes on display would never pass for anything near the professional level. The film also flirts with the implausible notion of officials fraternizing with players, which is a level of suspension of disbelief that not even Hollywood should ask of an audience familiar with the sport’s rules and ethics.
The good news is that Break Point is free to stream on Amazon Prime, which is precisely the right price point. The movie offers a few charming moments, some heartfelt brotherly banter, and a handful of recognizable tennis tropes. Beyond that, it’s largely a curiosity for those of us compelled to watch every tennis-themed film ever made, regardless of quality.
Break Point (<- Sponsored Link)
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