Venus and Serena 2012

Critics score:
77 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Think of this movie as a greatest-hits package, with some good stuff to show but nothing very new to say. Read more

Alissa Simon, Variety: An engaging, warts-and-all look at the Williams sisters. Read more

Mike D'Angelo, AV Club: What comes across most strongly is the genuine, overpowering love these two women have for each other, even when they're in direct competition. Read more

Loren King, Boston Globe: Does the film pull back the curtain on who they are and what drives them? Not so much. Read more

Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: The movie offers up much fascinating then-and-now footage. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: What is clear, over and above everything else, is that these women, who are often in need of a best friend, have it in each other. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: The film works better as a thrilling but superficial celebration of two incredible athletes instead of a personal portrait of two world-famous women who continue to make sports history. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: Will you know Venus and Serena any better after watching this movie than you did before? Probably not. Read more

Ella Taylor, NPR: Lively if slightly worshipful ... Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: The filmmakers remain admirably unbiased, a rarity in biographical documentaries. They neither worship nor vilify their subject, but allow her to define herself on her own unapologetically complex terms. Read more

Sara Stewart, New York Post: Any tennis fan interested in a straight-up account of what makes these fiercely talented players tick ... will find much to enjoy in "Venus and Serena." Read more

Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer: How much new does Venus and Serena have to tell us? Not enough. Read more

Alonso Duralde, TheWrap: Fans probably won't learn much they don't already know, but the film covers enough ground to feel like the movie equivalent of one of those lengthy, in-depth articles you used to get in the magazine of your Sunday newspaper. Read more

Catherine Bray, Time Out: An amiable enough overview, with the occasional 'say what?' moment. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: Once Venus and Serena flips through the duo's collection of greatest hits and hissy fits, it settles into a groove of lip service from famous people ... Read more

Ernest Hardy, Village Voice: The film works best as a primer, as it would take a miniseries to do justice to all that the sisters have accomplished in the face of obvious obstacles and naked double standards. Read more

Liz Clarke, Washington Post: An insightful look into the remarkable rise of the tennis-playing Williams sisters. Read more