To borrow tennis lingo, "Wimbledon" isn't exactly a lopsided 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 victory. But it's a win, nevertheless, maybe one that took four or five sets and included a tie-breaker along the way.

		'Wimbledon' Rating: PG-13 for language, sexuality, partial nudity. Starring: Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst. Director: Richard Loncraine.

In other words, I liked it a lot, probably more than I should have. What's not to like, though? Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, romance, an underdog competitor and a fortnight that's more sunny than soggy.

As someone who played tennis in high school and whose team almost never won (once, when I was ahead in a match, my opponent started to cry), I could relate to Bettany and his running internal monologue. At one point he silently prays, "Please, God, make it end."

The fair-haired actor, who was Russell Crowe's sidekick in "A Beautiful Mind" and "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," plays Peter Colt, a British player who was ranked No. 11 in the world back in 1996 but now idles at No. 119.

He's earned a wild-card entry into Wimbledon and plans to retire after one last trip to the hallowed grounds. Then, he reluctantly will take a job as teaching pro at a club where the middle-age matrons already are making jokes about ground strokes.

But fate and some hotel confusion send him directly into the path -- and suite -- of Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst), a talented, hot-tempered American player. With her long blond hair, hovering tennis father (Sam Neill) and burning desire to win, she is the "It Girl" who attracts attention, photographers and men.

A flirtation between Peter and Lizzie quickly advances to something more, even when they should be spending their nights getting a good rest for the next day's play. Peter, much to his own surprise, starts winning and soon finds himself shouldering the hopes of all England. The fiercely competitive Lizzie has her sights set squarely on Centre Court, too, as does her father, who disapproves of all outside distractions.

Wimbledon champ Pat Cash schooled Bettany, Dunst and a younger actor named Austin Nichols in how pros walk, hold a tennis ball, carry their racquets, move when they serve a ball at 140 mph or hit a cross court forehand. Some of the balls on screen are computer-generated, which enabled the filmmakers to place them wherever they wanted.

Bettany is perfect as a charming, unassuming player who's always been in the shadow of more acclaimed athletes and suddenly finds himself in the limelight. Dunst manages to be both wild child and repentant daddy's girl. Jon Favreau turns up as a single-minded agent -- with that single thing being money -- and Eleanor Bron, Bernard Hill and James McAvoy play Peter's parents and younger brother.

The actors don't look like they spent hours in the weight room, but they are believable. Lending a touch of authenticity are the appearances of TV announcers John McEnroe, Chris Evert and Mary Carillo, and the movie was made with the cooperation of The All England Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, although the locker rooms were off limits and had to be replicated for the film.

I imagine you could enjoy this movie without knowing a lick about tennis although it adds another layer of excitement and tension. Still, it's as much unabashed romantic comedy as anything, with jokes that produce gentle laughs rather than guffaws. You don't need to know a slice from a topspin to appreciate its themes about life's passages, tests of character and, most importantly, learning not to choke when the pressure's on.