The Dink: Jake Johnson Lifts This Underdog Sports Comedy

The underdog is almost the perfect character archetype to build a comedy around. Often far from perfect, and perhaps a little rough around the edges, these flaws are what can make these kinds of characters so endearing to watch. Though many have tried, there are just as many that have failed. Without that, there is nothing. Much like its titular character, The Dink is far from perfect and rough around the edges, but it sure is endearing. That being said, not everyone will be able to get on its level, however, Jake Johnson turns on his effortless charm on the way to delivering a phenomenal performance. Taking the comedy to the sports realm, pickleball has continued to rise in popularity, especially coming off of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Named after a specific shot in pickleball, a soft, controlled shot hit from the kitchen line that lands in the opponent’s kitchen, the sport is merely a jumping off point for a familiar story about self-discovery (or rediscovery) and emerging from underneath the shadow of our parents. A dash of silly, a bit endearing, and full of heart, although the ultimate path is plain to see, the film makes some fun stops along the way. While not the most memorable of sports comedies, it will hit the right spot, no pun intended.

Setting the stage, it is tennis versus pickleball, as the latter has slowly taken over the conversation in the racket sports world. The film is centered around Dusty Boyd (Johnson), a washed-up former tennis prodigy who now finds himself coaching children at his father Chuck’s (Harris) suburban country club. A strict and stoic father that commonly withheld his affection from his son, Chuck put a tennis racket in Dusty’s hand from a young age and pushed him in the hopes of making him into the next big tennis star. For the most part it worked, spending so much time being the kind of person he thought his father wanted him to be, Dusty’s need of Chuck’s approval made him into one of the sport’s rising stars. After tragedy stalled his once promising career, he is still yearning for his father’s approval. To this day, their relationship remains a complicated one, built on distrust and disappointment. Joining in on Chuck’s vendetta against pickleball, Dusty found a way to screw it up once again by reaggravating an old injury. Unable to play tennis, his rehab would lead him to the dark side, pickleball. Stepping into a whole different world, one that felt at odds with everything he knew and loved, his discomfort and utter contempt was clear to see. However, the tides began to turn upon meeting his new partner, Candace (Steenburgen). Very much cut from the same cloth, the longer the two played together, the more Dusty learned to enjoy pickleball.

Whether or not the feelings he had for Candace and/or pickleball were genuine was not immediately clear, using both as a means to jump back to tennis and finally get the approval of his father, or having expanded his horizons by trying to carve out his own identity, one outside of tennis. Either way, he found himself caught between two worlds, finding himself through both. In order to truly move forward, Dusty must confront the demons of his past, none bigger than his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (playing himself). Seeing the other side for the first time, and discovering a sport he learned to like and was good at, perhaps tennis was not his destiny. Dusty and Candace are a blast to watch together, as the former started to open up and be more like himself. While some could say that Candace is not an overly developed character, she did her job in helping unlock Dusty. Plenty flawed, it wasn’t a straightforward process, because this is a comedy, but his sheer likeability goes a long way in making it all work. With Chuck remaining as a major hurdle in his life, some sort of final showdown is inevitable, as a battle for the future of his father’s club laid in the balance. Having to step up in a way unlike what he has ever done before, it was now or never. Though the story may be on the predictable side, this did not make the outcome any less earned.

In terms of writing, the film’s sense of humor may not be for everyone, but much of it comes from its premise more than any one joke (except for a character which amounts to an extended cameo). On the other hand, though the premise may not be the most original, The Dink hits all the right notes. Similarly, while the material may not be overly challenging, the performances help elevate it to a level it could not have reached otherwise. Starting off, Johnson is phenomenal as Dusty, using his effortless charm and comedic timing to craft a character who is immensely likeable and compelling to watch, in spite of his flaws. Steenburgen, meanwhile, makes the most out her part, as Candace. Here, she proves she can still cut it in a major film role. Her and Johnson’s chemistry make for a winning dynamic that the film could have played into just a bit more. Playing a role tailor-made for him, Harris can say so much with so little in creating such an intimidating presence as Chuck, casting an insurmountably large shadow over his son.

The Dink is a throwback underdog sports comedy that hits the right spot, thanks to the effortless charm of Jake Johnson.

still courtesy of Apple Original Films

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.