It's the tennis establishment versus pickleball enthusiasts at an uptight club in 'The Dink,' a kind of spiritual descendent of 'Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.' The story itself is very by the books: A once promising tennis prodigy learns to get over himself and his disdain for the 'lesser sport.' This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
In one version of the world it could have been 'The Cutting Edge.' But 'The Dink' chose the grounded, goofy route, with memorably eccentric characters and a few high profile cameos that add up to an enjoyable watch.
Jake Johnson plays the has been, Dusty, whose domineering father, Chuck (Ed Harris) had groomed him for tennis stardom since he was born. He called his son 'The Hammer' long before he'd even told him his real name, we're told in an amusing introduction. But as with so many sports prodigies, Dusty flamed out early (in a match against a young Andy Roddick, no less). Now he teaches tennis lessons to kids at his dad's club and bores them with stories of his glory days. He has but one remaining champion: PJ, an earnest sycophant and kindhearted weirdo played by Australian comedian Aaron Chen.
Dusty and his father hate pickleball. But when pickleball enthusiasts arrive at the club, things change. The film also stars Ben Stiller, Mary Steenburgen, and Chloe Fineman.