Hey, every popular sport is bound to have its own movie, right? And like it or not, pickleball is insanely popular and not just for retired folks! It was inevitable that we’d get the pickleball comedy, The Dink, and unsurprising that it would come from Dodgeball‘s Ben Stiller. The two films look a lot alike.
The Dink stars Jake Johnson as an aging former tennis pro who initially hates pickleball being played at his father’s club. But when he gets hurt and can no longer play tennis, he takes up pickleball and, shocker, he kinda digs it, due in large part to his partner, played by Mary Steenburgen.
Behind the camera is Josh Greenbaum, who directed Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar and the Will Ferrell documentary, Will & Harper. The script is by Sean Clements. Greenbaum is also director of the anticipated sequel, Spaceballs: The New One.
The cast includes Ed Harris, Patton Oswalt, Chloe Fineman, Chris Parnell, Aaron Chen, Andy Roddick, and Stiller who also produces. Lots of funny people in this one.
SYNOPSIS: Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck’s (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father’s approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck’s vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father’s affection and his very identity.
The Dink hits Apple TV on July 24th.
