Love is just a game. You’re not breaking any barriers with a movie that draws parallels between sports and romantic relationships. Hell, Tin Cup did that! Wimbledon did that! But Luca Guadagnino really seems to have hit on something with his tennis romance, Challengers, which centers on a love triangle between Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor. It currently sits at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and full disclosure it’ll go up higher when my review goes up tomorrow.
What I think previous trailers have missed, and is somewhat revealed by this final trailer, is that Challengers is both passionate and funny. While it leans more on the dramatic side, almost as a thriller in some respects, there’s a lot of sly humor as these three intense tennis pros go for the game, set, and match.
Here’s the synopsis: From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – West Side Story), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – The Crown) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win.
Challengers opens in theaters on April 26th.
