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DECEMBER 1�8, 2021
In ‘King Richard,’ Will Smith reigns as
Venus and Serena Williams’ dad and coach
By Chris Hewitt
Star Tribune
WHERE TO WATCH
“King Richard” is now in
theaters and streaming on
HBO Max.
M
aybe the most important
thing about “King Richard”
goes unmentioned in the movie:
Alone among the women who
started playing professional ten-
nis with them more than 25 years
ago, Venus and Serena Williams
are still competing and loving it.
“Make sure you have fun,”
Richard Williams (Will Smith) tells
his daughters before they practice
or compete — and they listen.
According to the fi lm, there was
never any question he had their
best interests at heart, whether
that was pulling them from the
junior tennis circuit because of
its toxicity, contradicting their
coaches or, before they’d ever
played a pro match, telling report-
ers they would be the best tennis
players of all time.
There are reasons to be skepti-
cal that we’re getting the whole
picture in “King Richard,” starting
HBO Max
Will Smith (center) reigns in “King
Richard.”
with the fact that Venus, Serena
and sister Isha Price are among
the producers. The script glosses
over troublesome areas, including
confusion about how many chil-
dren Richard has and with whom.
Almost nothing is said about the
Williams’ fi nances (it seems Venus
and Serena began supporting
the family while in their teens).
And were the three daughters not
named Venus or Serena really OK
with mostly being ignored? But, as
a tribute to the dad who was their
fi rst and best coach, “King Rich-
ard” is inspiring and entertaining.
Despite obstacles that include
violence near their home and even
police checks, apparently initiated
by jealous neighbors, Richard re-
mains dedicated to his daughters’
careers, sure in the knowledge
that “I’m in the champion-raising
business.”
Smith is outstanding as the
title character, capturing both his
abrasiveness and a beaten-down
quality that comes out in Rich-
ard’s slow drawl. Although he’s
less known than the Williamses’
mother, Oracene, who still attends
nearly all of their matches, it’s
Richard’s movie. Venus (Saniyya
Sidney) and, even more so, Serena
(Demi Singleton) are supporting
characters. Both actors are too
old for their roles but they capture
the players’ otherworldly con-
fi dence and the latter is a dead
ringer for Serena.
It’s such a remarkable story
that “King Richard” could eas-
ily have been a miniseries. That
would have allowed more time to
talk about Richard’s unorthodox
coaching, which led to 14-year-
old Venus making her pro debut
having played no tournament of
any kind for the previous three
years. It also would be great to see
more of Oracene, who’s played
with quiet dignity by Aunjanue
Ellis. One scene in which she
coaches Serena raises more
questions than it answers.
Heck, I’d watch a whole mini-
series episode about the moment
Serena learns she’ll miss out on
working with a top coach who
agrees to help Venus. Richard
consoles Serena by telling her
she’s going to be the greatest of
all time, and it’s fascinating be-
cause “King Richard” has shown
us that he wouldn’t say that be-
cause he’s a dad who loves his kid
(although he does) but because
he is absolutely certain it’s true.
“King Richard” ends when Ve-
nus turns pro, so there’s nothing
about the racism and rudeness
the girls faced as young players,
from the media and other ath-
letes, and there’s no insight into
the mental game that, coupled
with their physical gifts, has made
them Hall of Famers.
Mostly, it’s a story about being
a parent, about having faith in
one’s children and about being
absolutely right.
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