The Dink Movie Review: Where Dark Humor Meets Heart

Dusty Boyd once had it all-a booming serve, a Wimbledon junior title, and the nickname “The Hammer.” But years later, he’s a washed-up tennis pro scraping by, estranged from his father Chuck (Ed Harris), a former champion who never misses an opportunity to remind Dusty of his failures. When Dusty learns his childhood country club is on the brink of financial collapse, he’s compelled to do the unthinkable: break a sacred vow he made to never touch a pickleball paddle.

The catch? Pickleball is precisely the sport his father despises-a “retirement hobby,” in Chuck’s words, that sullies the purity of tennis. To save the club, win back his father’s respect, and prove to himself that he still has something left, Dusty must swallow his pride and compete in a local pickleball tournament, teaming up with an oddball cast of characters including the eccentric Dr. Stone (Ben Stiller), a no-nonsense club member Candace (Mary Steenburgen), and a tennis legend turned commentator, Andy Roddick (playing himself).

Where “The Dink” succeeds is in its refusal to take itself too seriously. Johnson, who also produced, brings his signature blend of weary optimism and self-deprecation to Dusty, making him a protagonist worth rooting for even when the script (by a trio of writers) leans on tired tropes. His chemistry with Ed Harris is surprisingly tender; Harris, sporting a grizzled severity, delivers a father-son dynamic that feels lived-in rather than written.

Ben Stiller steals scenes as Dr. Stone, a manic sports psychologist with dubious methods and a penchant for oversharing. Andy Roddick, in a meta cameo, lands jokes with the timing of a seasoned comic-a highlight for tennis fans. Mary Steenburgen brings warmth as Candace, while Aaron Chen (as the obligatory eccentric pickleball whiz PJ) and Patton Oswalt (a club regular named Skip) round out a cast that elevates material that could have felt one-note.

But the film’s anodyne nature cuts both ways. Director Josh Greenbaum (“Strays,” “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”) knows his way around comedy, yet “The Dink” rarely surprises. The training montages are formulaic, the inevitable tournament climax predictable. The humor lands more often than it misses-thanks largely to Johnson’s deadpan and Stiller’s erratic energy-but the jokes feel safe, never drawing blood or challenging expectations.

Pickleball itself, for all the hand-wringing about its sacredness, is treated with a knowing wink. The sport’s rapid rise in popularity provides a clever backdrop, and the film mines genuine comedy from its differences with tennis. Still, one wishes the script had taken more risks. The country club subplot feels underdeveloped, and a romantic thread with Chloe Fineman’s Marisa is so thinly drawn it might as well be a line item on a production whiteboard.

Pros

• Jake Johnson’s relatable, self-effacing performance anchors the film
• Ed Harris and Johnson share surprising dramatic chemistry
• Ben Stiller delivers scene-stealing comic relief
• Andy Roddick’s cameo is genuinely funny
• Gentle, inoffensive humor suitable for family viewing

Cons

• Predictable three-act structure with no real twists
• Underwritten romantic subplot that feels obligatory
• Pickleball’s potential for satire isn’t fully exploited
• Climax lacks tension; stakes never feel genuinely high
• Supporting characters like Aaron Chen’s PJ are wasted

“The Dink” is a perfectly adequate streaming comedy that knows exactly what it is: a mild, unpunchy pickleball-themed sibling to “King Richard” or “The Mighty Ducks.” It won’t break any records or generate many buzz-worthy clips, but for those seeking a low-commitment, feel-good watch on a quiet evening, it does the job. Jake Johnson remains a reliably engaging lead, and the cast’s collective charm compensates for a script that plays it too safe.

If you’re looking for a film that challenges the sports-comedy genre or delivers edge-of-your-seat tension, look elsewhere. But if you’re curious about pickleball, fond of Johnson’s schlubby everyman, or simply want to watch Ben Stiller try to hypnotize a grown man with a timer and a ping-pong paddle, “The Dink” serves up exactly what it promises-nothing more, nothing less.

Rating: 5/10
Streaming on Apple TV+ starting July 23

Source: Hollywood Reporter