Pickleball takes center court in “The Dink,” a sports comedy that pits tradition against change while following a former tennis prospect searching for a second chance.
The film stars Jake Johnson as Dusty Boyd, a once-promising tennis player whose career never lived up to expectations. Now coaching children at his father Chuck’s suburban country club, Dusty remains eager to earn the approval of his demanding father, played by Ed Harris.
Chuck has little patience for the sport that has become the club’s latest obsession: pickleball. Dusty initially embraces his father’s campaign against the growing pastime, but everything changes when an old injury flares up, leaving him unable to play tennis.
As part of his rehabilitation, Dusty reluctantly turns to pickleball. Alongside his new doubles partner, Candace, played by Mary Steenburgen, he begins to discover an unexpected appreciation for the sport. The experience forces him to reconsider long-held beliefs while confronting disappointment from his playing career.
His journey also brings him face-to-face with his childhood rival, portrayed by former tennis star Andy Roddick, who appears as himself.
The story builds toward a showdown over the future of the country club, while Dusty wrestles with questions about family, identity, and the pursuit of redemption.
Josh Greenbaum directed the film from a screenplay by Sean Clements. Greenbaum previously directed “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar,” while Clements is known for his work on “Workaholics.” Ben Stiller serves as a producer, following his work on the sports comedy “Dodgeball.”
Joining Johnson, Harris, and Steenburgen is an ensemble cast that includes Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Chris Parnell, Aaron Chen, Andy Roddick, and Ben Stiller.
Blending sports comedy with family drama, “The Dink” uses the rapid rise of pickleball as the backdrop for an underdog story about rediscovering purpose after setbacks and finding common ground across generations.
Watch the official trailer for The Dink today and the film is now streaming on Apple TV.
