It all harks back to 2011, when Samberg himself starred in a photo spread in The New York Times Magazine that saw him inhabit the looks of various tennis stars in their natural habitats and classic poses. Those images were shot by Walter Iooss Jr., a longtime aficionado of the sport who has turned his lens on Serena Williams and more over time.
The docu-style film looks to have it all: a mock makeout session between the two during a Wimbledon press conference, a nose-in-the-corner homage to The Blair Witch Project, and a Jay Z/Solange/Beyoncé-type elevator scene. What's more, Lena Dunham stars as—wait for it—a Jordache executive, and more performances come from the likes of (deep breath) Mary Steenburgen, Michael Sheen, June Squibb, Fred Armisen, Howie Mandel, and Soledad O'Brien.
Real tennis players also get in on the act. It's amusing to see Serena discuss another Williams' match in dramatic terms. Add to that the John McEnroe cameo and Chris Evert voiceover, and says here we've got a recipe for success that will satiate all audiences.
Then there's the actual ball-striking. That looks to be a bit suspect in early shots from this fictional seven-day bout, but nothing new among tennis films. (We're looking at you, *Wimbledon* and Match Point.)
7 Days in Hell premieres July 11 on HBO. Pity poor Isner and Mahut, who haven't had a doc made about their true-life Wimbledon marathon. Yet.
Got a tip or a point to make? Hit me on Twitter at @jonscott9.
