There comes a point in every sport’s rise to cultural dominance when Hollywood decides it’s time to cash in. Apparently, pickleball has reached that point.
“The Dink” is a goofy low stakes sports comedy packed with broad jokes, celebrity cameos, and an underdog story about the paddle pastime that’s designed to win over the audience. If you’re expecting the next great sports film, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you’re in the mood for something light and keenly self-aware, it’s an easy recommendation for a breezy evening at home.
Jake Johnson plays Dusty Boyd, a former tennis prodigy whose best days are long behind him. After an old injury ends any hope of a comeback, he’s reluctantly pulled into the one sport he can’t stand: pickleball. What begins as a desperate attempt to save his father’s (Ed Harris) struggling country club becomes something more personal, forcing Dusty to let go of the identity that’s defined him for years.
Johnson’s everyman charm keeps the character grounded and likeable, even when the movie gets delightfully ridiculous. He’s especially good opposite Mary Steenburgen, whose warm, quietly funny performance as Dusty’s mentor Candace gives the film its big heart. Their unlikely friendship has an easy chemistry that makes the story work better than it probably should, and it’s a delightful pairing of these two actors.
Director Josh Greenbaum embraces the silliness of Sean Clements‘s script from the start. The movie has the loose, anything goes energy of comedies like “Happy Gilmore” and “Dodgeball,” calling back to familiar sports movie clichés instead of trying to reinvent them. Some jokes land better than others, with much of the humor of the broad slapstick variety. There are more physical gags than clever dialogue, so your enjoyment will depend on how much patience you have for that style of comedy.
The film also has a sincere streak that’s quite endearing. Dusty’s real struggle isn’t learning how to play pickleball, but accepting that just because his life didn’t unfold the way he imagined doesn’t mean his self worth has to be tied to his past as a tennis star (or to winning his father’s approval). Those moments give the movie just enough heart to keep it from becoming completely disposable.
The pacing sags a bit in the middle, and the whole project feels unmistakably tied to the current pickleball craze (which likely will make it seem dated in just a few years). Still, as a breezy weekend comedy, “The Dink” delivers more often than it misses. It’s funny enough, likable enough, and self-aware enough to earn a modest place among modern sports comedies.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 