King Richard

An irrepressible real-life character is entertainingly unpacked in this largely satisfying biopic of Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena. Will Smith plays the man in question, with Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton as his remarkable daughters. The sisters go from playing on a rundown court in Compton, where Richard bravely butts heads with gangbangers, to success on the juniors circuit and being coached by the best in the country. If Smith's performance can feel affected, there's complexity to his portrayal of a tired yet determined man who is obstinate and self-deceiving but has the best of intentions. Some of Richard's more troubling flaws are brushed over in this often-sunny spin on events, though his motivations are well fleshed out. Jon Bernthal is great as the sisters' exasperated coach, as is Aunjanue Ellis as their overshadowed but equally committed mother. Whatever Richard's extraordinary efforts, though, it's his children who have made history, and it's a shame that they're ultimately sidelined in their own success story.