5 Performances That Sucked...
5. Carl Colt - Wimbledon
Released in 2004 and directed by Richard Loncraine, Wimbledon marked a stark contrast to McAvoys other 2004 effort Inside Im Dancing. With a plot focusing in on tennis journeyman Peter Colt and his attempts to capture the Wimbledon title (inside a romantic comedy), McAvoy plays his selfish, egotistical brother, who constantly bets against his own sibling. With the film providing a pretty contemporary depiction of romance admist the hustle and bustle of the Wimbledon Championships, it never really offers anything new or refreshing, plodding along to tired clichés and plot devices, and the performances pretty much suffer as a consequence. Admittedly, McAvoys role is merely secondary, adding moments of comic relief and a piece of characterisation that contrasts with his tennis playing brother Peter, played by Paul Bettany. If anything, the performance feels forced and contrived, and McAvoy looks kind of bored. One can hardly blame McAvoy for taking the role, though - a big(ish) summer film would provide a decent opportunity to promote himself and establish his name with a bigger audience than an independent movie might. Whilst the film is now an intriguing look back at where McAvoy began his career, his performance here isn't particularly notable.