Everything you need to know about the new pickleball movie ‘The Dink’
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Ben Stiller’s new pickleball comedy “The Dink” is now streaming on Apple TV. The movie features Jake Johnson as a washed-up former tennis star who discovers the superior racket sport.
The movie features several other big-name stars as well, including Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Chloe Fineman, Aaron Chen, Patton Oswalt, Chris Parnell and Christine Taylor.
Former tennis pros Andy Roddick and John McEnroe also make appearances in the film, making it the most notable pickleball movie release to date.
While Johnson’s character initially looks down on pickleball (as many tennis players do), he eventually starts playing when an injury limits his ability to play tennis. He not only tries pickleball, but finds himself actually enjoying it thanks to his new partner (Steenburgen’s character).
JOOLA releases special edition paddle to celebrate movie
Johnson’s character is nicknamed “Da Hammer” in the movie. So, fittingly, JOOLA has released a special-edition paddle called Da Hammer to celebrate the movie’s release.
It’s a 14mm elongated paddle that features a carbon-fiber surface and a premium grip.
JOOLA “Da Hammer” paddle
‘The Dink’ movie reviews
The movie, which was released last week, currently has a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has received mixed reviews from critics.
The New York Times said it “has its moments, but they never completely cohere, and the movie struggles to maintain a consistent tone.”
Others view it more positively, though.
“Almost every issue that ‘The Dink’ has with pacing — it’s about 10 minutes longer than it should be — is overcome through the talent of its cast, most notably Johnson and Steenburgen,” said Brian Tallerico, a movie reviewer for RogerEbert.com. “Both underrated performers seem to be having so much fun together that it becomes contagious enough for the whole thing to work. It may not come out on top of any all-time sports comedy brackets, but it’s another one of those underdog stories that doesn’t have to be the champion to be a winner.”
How to watch ‘The Dink’
The movie is currently available exclusively on Apple TV — find it here.
Run time: 1 hour, 42 minutes
Starring: Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Aaron Chen
Director: Josh Greenbaum
Producer: Ben Stiller
