McDaniel
With convincing intimacy and raw chemistry, Zendaya and two unfamiliar male counterparts have pulled off one of the sexist movies of the year.
“Challengers” is the story of a love triangle that takes place over the course of many years — from young, up-and-coming tennis stars to the professional circuit. The games these players enjoy together extend beyond the tennis court, to romantic competitions off of it.
“Who wouldn’t be in love with you?” Zendaya’s character Tashi is asked, or really told, more than once.
Zendaya is the metaphorical trophy being played for in this game. At the same time, it’s exactly what she wants. She’s the one in control here, and she lives for the game — in this case, the competition between the two men: the challengers.
She explains to them early in the movie that tennis is a relationship, and when the game is played right, the climax of the challenge, there’s nothing better.
The film by Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me by Your Name”) is shot beautifully, with sweeping slow motion shots of the sweat-covered athletes on the court, and a high velocity techno soundtrack blasting to keep up the intensity.
But make no mistake, the sweat off the court is where this movie stands out. Zendaya is a long way from “The Greatest Showman” or the “Spider-Man” franchise. More than confidence, she presents Tashi with a twisted competitiveness that makes the top athletes great. I’m not convinced she loves either man, but she sure loves the challenge she has placed before them. As a lover, coach and puppet master, this is her best role yet.
From the film’s trailer, I thought it was an odd choice that she was put in this love triangle with two big-eared dudes I didn’t recognize, but I stand corrected; these guys are phenomenal and come out swinging from the opening set.
I recognized Mike Faist’s voice from the “Dear Evan Hansen” original soundtrack, and I was genuinely impressed with his acting chops in this role of Art. The range he shows between being a light-hearted youth to a burdened veteran of the game is impressive.
Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) plays his childhood friend and future rival, Patrick, the third point of this triangle — bringing a loose swagger to the role that one could see Tashi loving and hating at the same time.
Where both men excel is in their ability to give a monologue with a single glance, a smirk that’s a confession. But when they do talk, the writing is original and intriguing, and I couldn’t wait for the next interaction.
These dynamic characters, believable in their complexities and charm, had me loving their story.
And in a sick way, they all do too. Because love it or hate it, it doesn’t matter if they win or lose — what matters is they play the game.
4.5 / 5
Scott McDaniel is an assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College. He lives in Bargersville with his wife and three kids.
