The Dink, a new sports comedy arriving on Apple TV on Friday, blends light-hearted humour with an underdog redemption story, using the rapidly growing sport of pickleball as its backdrop.
According to AP, the film centres on Dusty, played by Jake Johnson, a former tennis prodigy whose career stalled after losing to a young Andy Roddick. Now working as a tennis coach at his father’s exclusive club, Dusty spends more time reliving past glories than building a new future.
His father, Chuck, played by Ed Harris, raised him with dreams of becoming a tennis champion and openly dismisses pickleball. Dusty shares that view until a wrist injury changes everything. During a brief but memorable appearance, Ben Stiller plays a doctor who recommends pickleball as part of Dusty’s rehabilitation.
Although reluctant at first, Dusty begins playing the sport alongside a spirited group of older women portrayed by Mary Steenburgen, Cleo King and the late Lynne Marie Stewart. As he spends more time with them, he gradually rediscovers both his confidence and a new perspective on life.
Johnson delivers another engaging performance as a flawed yet likeable underdog. Steenburgen brings warmth and charm to the story, while Harris convincingly portrays Dusty’s demanding father.
The supporting cast also includes Patton Oswalt as an enthusiastic pickleball player, Chloe Fineman as Dusty’s unpredictable former girlfriend and Chris Parnell as a tennis professional. Director Josh Greenbaum and writer Sean Clements balance comedy with heartfelt moments, avoiding the temptation to make pickleball or its players the butt of every joke.
One of the film’s biggest comic highlights comes from a subplot involving minor characters rather than the central storyline, creating one of its most memorable laugh-out-loud moments.
Greenbaum, whose previous credits include Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and the upcoming Spaceballs sequel, continues to strengthen his reputation as a reliable comedy filmmaker at a time when big-screen comedies have become increasingly uncommon.
The review also reflects on the changing landscape of comedy releases. While audiences still enjoy cinema-going, many mainstream comedies now debut on streaming platforms instead of theatres. Films such as The Dink and Kevin Hart’s 72 Hours continue the tradition of straightforward crowd-pleasers, but the reviewer argues that something is inevitably lost when audiences cannot laugh together in a packed cinema.
The Dink begins streaming on Apple TV on Friday. The Motion Picture Association has given the film a PG-13 rating for strong language and sexual material. It runs for 102 minutes and receives two-and-a-half stars out of four.
