Sandy Kenyon reviews 'Battle of The Sexes'

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The "Battle Of The Sexes" played out in prime time back in 1973 after a former male tennis champ claimed he could easily beat the number one female tennis player in the world.

"Battle of the Sexes" is a timely reminder the struggle for greater equality between men and women is not over, though times have surely changed for the better since the tennis match between Bobby Riggs against Billie Jean King.

Emma Stone as Billie Jean inhabits her role: stalking the court just like the real player once did.

And, Steve Carell is a worthy foil: a guy proud to call himself a male chauvinist and play to the prejudice so prevalent at the time.

King was married to a man but found herself attracted to a woman when the spotlight on the tennis star was burning brightest, and the film does a good job of explaining the stakes involved.

She tells her girlfriend in the movie, "whatever I may feel I can't act on it."

"Battle Of The Sexes" is an entertaining history lesson but the film is never quite as fun nor as crazy as the real spectacle it depicts.

And, the journey of Billie Jean King had a lot more twists and turns, hence it's more interesting than what is shown here.