Written by Justin Kuritzkes
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Tashi: "How often does this happen? Going after the same girl?"
Patrick: "Not as often as you'd think."
Art: "We usually have different types."
One of the most talked about movies of the year and while I missed it in theatres, I did wait for the digital release. Was it worth the hype? Yes, I'd say it was actually. I found this quite an interesting movie to watch.
I'm not a big tennis affictionado but I find it less boring compared to other sports. Tennis was certainly the order of the day here, but also in the midst of a love triangle between two friends/rival Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and the rather aloof, Tashi Duncan (Zendaya).
Love triangles are not always easy to get right as often, there's one character you care less about than others. Fortunately with this movie, all three characters are compelling in their own right as well as with and against each other that it made it easier to get invested. It also helped that our leading cast radiate chemistry off one another in spades.
In fact, while both Art and Patrick get romantically involved with Tashi at different points throughout the movie, the amount of sexual tension that both men have for each other was as palpable as what they had for Tashi. I'm not joking here. Even Tashi spotted it and didn't want to be a homewrecker between the pair.
Of course as time passed throughout the movie, Tashi had gotten into a relationship with Patrick that ended after she sustained a career damaging injury. Then she settled down with Art, had a kid with him and was desperate for Art not to end his career that she resorted to trying to get Patrick to throw a game to salvage her husband's career.
By the time we got into the last act of the movie, both Patrick and Art were fighting to win that one last game. Tashi was in the crowd, almost not knowing she was meant to root for and the tension practically leapt off the screen. Even I was very getting very into this fictional match by the very end.
- The movie tries to age Zendaya a bit with a haircut but does nothing to show either Josh O'Connor or Mike Faist being older.
- The strikes delayed this movie's release by nearly seven months.
- The churro scene between Art and Patrick was just as hot as the two of them inadvertently kidding each other.
- Some of the tennis balls being hit were the work of CGI, even though the actors did train for their roles.
- Standout music: Nelly's Hot In Here, Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's Compress/Repress.
- Chronology: We span from 2006 to 2019 during the entirety of the movie as well as the US Open.
I really enjoyed Challengers. As a movie, it certainly lived up to the hype. Zendaya, Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist were absolutely on fantastic form with one another and the chemistry between all three was off the charts. Easily one of the best movies this year.
Rating: 9 out of 10
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