5 Life Lessons from King Richard + Movie Parent Review written by the Elf on November 23rd, 2021. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch King Richard
Movie: King Richard
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Biographical, Drama, Sports
Length: 2 hrs 24 mins
Age suggested: 13 and up
Release Date: November 19th, 2021
Warnings: Moderate swearing, Some violence through fist fighting and gunshots (See the ‘Is King Richard Appropriate for Younger Kids?’ Section below for more information)
5 Life Lessons from King Richard
1) Everyone Needs Hype People in their Lives
We all need people who not only believe in us, but also who motivate us. People who remind us of our potential and encourage us to reach for it.
2) You’ve Got to Believe in Yourself
Before accepting Serena and Venus, many of the prospective mentors needed to confirm that this dream was not only Richard’s. When faced with this question, both sisters were adamant not only in their desire to be the best but in their ability to do just that.
3) Rejection and Losing are a Big Part of Winning
Richard did not give up after being rejected many times. One time Venus won a whole bunch of games, but lost in the final match. She left feeling super discouraged until, in a super poignant movie moment, she walks out to cheering crowds who were so excited to see her succeed.
4) Hard Work and Dedication are Invaluable, But You Also Need Community
Venus and Serena were supported by their mom and dad, but also their siblings. Everyone in the family had to work together towards the goal. I think it’s easy to watch inspirational movies like this and forget that the success is not just hard work, and it’s never just because of one person, but it is because of the community of support.
5) Success is not the most important thing
In one of the more light-hearted moments in the movie, Richard has all the girls sit down and watch Cinderella. He does this after he gets frustrated with their bragging after winning a game. He asks each kid what lessons they learn from the movie before punctuating the point of the importance of humility. Winning isn’t just about your own success but about the people you can bring up with you!
I also really loved that he was so focused on the girls as human beings and not just as a star. He wanted all of his girls to be smart and successful but also well rounded. Good grades, fun, and effort were all important.
*keep reading for our King Richard Parent Review
King Richard Parent Review
Is King Richard Appropriate for Younger Kids?
While that largely will depend on the kids, here are some things to keep in mind. The first is that there is language in the movie, not a lot- and you won’t hear it coming out of the kids’ mouths like in Ghostbusters. The second is that it is not just an inspiring tennis story but a family’s whole journey. The focus of the movie is a very imperfect person and they don’t shy away from that. The third is that there are a handful of moments where he gets beat up. There’s a shooting. And there’s a large newsclip on Rodney King being beaten.
So for a movie that you might not expect violence from, there are two scenes where someone is brutaly beaten on screen. And that might be too much for a group of elementary tennis players to process together. HOWEVER- it can bring up some great conversation, and if you’ve got an older group that can handle that in a respectful way, this can be an awesome movie to discuss!
The key to me would be making sure that your kids can safely process a shooting and beatings without being triggered themselves or disrespectful to someone elses lived experience. So if you’re looking to inspire younger kids that are into sports or tennis- ABSOLUTELY look into the Williams sisters. But maybe one of the many shows focused solely on them and not this one from the perspective of their dad and childhood. On the other hand, if you’ve got an older kiddo, in my opinion this movie can be inspiring regardless of whether or not they are into sports!
Why Watch King Richard
King Richard is an inspiring movie for many reasons. It’s an encouraging reminder that our community and dreams matter. That doing things the way everyone else does don’t always work. And that we need to have hype people in our lives and hype others up too.
There are so many life and parenting lessons! But it’s not a fairytale!! While they strive to tell the story authentically, Richard never claimed to be a great dad or perfect person. I think the fact that only a handful of his kids participated in this project speaks to that. But in a way that makes it even more inspirational because it seems even more attainable.
It’s a feel good movie that gives you even more backstory on two amazing role models, Venus and Serena Williams! It also really skillfully showcases both racial oppression and Black joy.
Characters
Will Smith played Richard in such a believable way. You know how sometimes with big name stars, you can’t get one of their characters out of your head. Or it suspends disbelief because you just can’t see them as anyone outside of themselves or one of their more famous characters? I never once during the movie stopped and thought, hey that’s the fresh prince. His character was great. All of the child actresses were fabulous. These were big emotional roles and they all did so well!
My absolute favorite though? The one who pushed the story and family along? The mom!! Aunjanue Ellis as Brandi Williams was FABULOUS! Richard plays a vital role but it wouldn’t have gone anywhere without her critical lifeline. And she keeps them alllll in check. To be able to deliver powerfully emotional dialogues opposite Will Smith in the way that she did was nothing short of amazing.
Story of the King Richard Movie
I was really impressed with how the story was told and the script. It was so engaging that it did not feel like a long movie. There are several articles like this one in Decider and this one in the LA Times that tell you more about the real life biographies of the people represented in the movie. And while it certainly was not all encompassing, it covered a whole lot.
Many of the people represented in the movie were very involved in the film project and wanted it to be very authentic. It was also a really great homage to Richard himself, who dedicated so much of his life towards making sure that Serena and Venus became the super stars that they are today.
These 5 Life Lessons from King Richard Led Me To Ask These 5 Questions of Myself
1) Who am I hyping up? Believing in? Supporting?
2) How am I talking to myself? Believing in myself?
3) Where are rejection and loosing defeating me instead of propelling me forward?
4) Where am I dedicating my time and energy?
5) What is more important to me than success? What are the most important things in my life right now?
Thanks for checking out our life lessons from King Richard and parent review!
Check out some related content:
-Richard William’s Book Black and White: The Way I See It
–Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable Documentary Review
-Lessons learned from Mr. Rogers’ A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
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