By Sarah Osman

The Dink turns pickleball rivalries into an easygoing comedy about aging, ego, and unexpected connection.

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen in The Dink. Photo: Apple TV

Is pickleball cursed? I think so. I’ve now met multiple people who were injured playing it, multiple women who dated pickleball players who turned out to be complete assholes, and multiple tennis players who would choke out a pickleball player over a court.

The Dink doesn’t explore the sport’s apparent (to me)  jinx, but it does tap into those simmering tennis-player rivalries. Jake Johnson stars as Dusty Boyd, a former tennis prodigy best known for losing to Andy Roddick, former world No. 1 American tennis star known for his huge serve and US Open title. Years later, Boyd’s stuck working at his father Chuck’s (Ed Harris) tennis club, boring students with stories about his glory days.

Of course, trouble is brewing: the pickleball players are frustrated with their single dilapidated court. Chuck and his lackeys discover a loophole in the club’s charter that gives them the opportunity to settle the dispute — with a tennis duel. To choose a player, Chuck organizes a tournament, and during the contest Dusty injures his wrist. His doctor prescribes the unthinkable: pickleball.

Disgusted, Dusty initially researches the sport via some private browsing. But he soon finds himself playing with three senior women, including Candace (Mary Steenburgen), a recent divorcée who has embraced pickleball among her many hobbies. Predictably, the more Dusty plays, the more he warms to it.

This is the kind of goofy, mid-budget comedy studios once churned out regularly—Blumhouse in spirit though not in content. It’s silly without becoming unduly crude (aside from Ben Stiller’s lecherous doctor); the screenplay’s tone balances mockery with genuine affection for the sport’s community.

There is plenty of caricature. For example, Dusty encounters a range of pickleball personalities, including “grunters”—partners who punctuate every shot with noise. But the film’s core is his friendship with Candace. Both are lonely and, despite the age gap, they find real companionship. The script nods to the ironies of the pair’s generational divide (their shared viewing of The Graduate is no accident), but this isn’t a romance. Instead, The Dink becomes a modest argument for the unexpected joys of new hobbies and human connection.

In terms of performances, Johnson and Steenburgen anchor the film with ease. Cameos from John McEnroe and Roddick add real life flavor, while newcomer Aaron Chen stands out, particularly how well he handles a running bit about his fascination with ships. The cast’s evident enjoyment with working together carries over to the screen.

This is not to say that, even with such limited goals, the film isn’t without flaws: some gags overstay their welcome, and a few plot holes become distracting. Why not neaten up loose ends? There’s never a chance the proceedings will come close to the the full-throttle absurdity of sports comedies like Happy Gilmore or Dodgeball. Still, this is a pleasant 90 minutes, an affectionate homage to pickleball that will upset those who love or scratch their heads over the appeal of the sport.

After watching The Dink, I’m still convinced the sport might be cursed—but I’m also tempted to try a game. But I will have a doctor standing by.

Sarah Mina Osman is based in Los Angeles. In addition to The Arts Fuse, her writing can be found in The Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Matador Network, HelloGiggles, Business Insider, and WatchMojo. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is working on her first novel. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Instagram @SarahMinaOsman and at Bluesky @sarahminaosman.bsky.social.