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‘The Dink’ Review: Pickleball Takes on Tennis in a Mild Underdog Sports Comedy
Variety film critic Guy Lodge reviews "The Dink," a new Apple TV original sports comedy directed by Josh Greenbaum that pits pickleball against tennis. The film follows a disgraced former tennis prodigy who is humbled by a group of enthusiastic amateur pickleball players, aiming for the good-natured, non-confrontational tone associated with the fast-growing sport, but the review finds it largely short on genuine laughs despite its amiable premise.
Jake Johnson stars as Dusty Boyd, a onetime junior tennis star whose career was derailed by injury and an overbearing father (Ed Harris), who now coaches at an elite tennis club before clashing with pickleball players including Mary Steenburgen's Candace. The review praises the surprising chemistry between Johnson, 48, and Steenburgen, 73, as the film's standout element, alongside cameos from real tennis pros Andy Roddick and John McEnroe, but notes the Sean Clements-penned script (his feature writing debut) is otherwise formulaic, and producer Ben Stiller's involvement invites unflattering comparisons to the funnier 2004 comedy "Dodgeball."
In short
- Apple TV's "The Dink" is a mild pickleball-vs-tennis sports comedy.
- Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen's chemistry is the film's best surprise.
- Review calls the Ben Stiller-produced script formulaic and short on laughs.
Explained simply
Pickleball is a sport played with solid paddles and a lightweight ball on a court smaller than a tennis court. The game has experienced rapid growth in recent years, particularly among older adults and recreational players seeking an accessible alternative to tennis, and has developed a reputation for its friendly, inclusive culture.
"The Dink" is a new comedy film released on Apple TV that explores the contrast between traditional professional tennis and the growing world of amateur pickleball. Starring Jake Johnson as a formerly promising junior tennis player and Mary Steenburgen as an enthusiastic amateur pickleball competitor, the film follows their interactions as representatives of these two sporting communities.
Sports films have long served as vehicles for exploring broader cultural and social themes beyond athletics itself. The release of this film reflects the extent to which pickleball has become culturally significant enough to merit attention in mainstream entertainment, marking the sport's transition from a niche recreational activity to a subject of wider popular interest.
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