Challengers Review: A Tense Intersection of Love & Tennis

Sports-themed movies often attract audiences with their dynamic storytelling, and "Challengers" is no exception. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, this film combines the thrill of athletic competition with a touch of simplicity, making it accessible and enjoyable for a broad audience.

While a significant portion of the film centers on tennis, it avoids becoming tedious by diversifying its focus. The movie is renowned not just for its depiction of the sport with its iconic yellow ball but also for exploring a complex romance involving the main characters, full of unexpected developments.

Intrigued? Keep reading to know the full story of this movie!

Synopsis

Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) are best friends who share a passion for tennis. Both excelled in numerous matches, and their fame soared after winning the junior men's doubles title at the US Open in 2006.

Since their victory, Patrick and Art have been inseparable, earning the nickname "Water and Fire" from their fans. Their success led them to meet many legendary tennis figures, including the talented and charismatic 18-year-old Tashi Duncan (Zendaya).

Despite her young age, Tashi has already achieved remarkable success and attracted the attention of many fellow athletes, including Patrick and Art. Both friends vied for her attention, and their efforts paid off as they grew closer to Tashi.

One day, they decided to ask Tashi for her contact number. She agreed, but they had to face off in a tennis match, and the winner would get her number. This challenge sparked a fierce competition between the two.

Patrick won the match, which strained their friendship, especially when Art knew that Patrick started dating Tashi soon after. Unaware of Art's deep feelings for Tashi, Patrick's win and new relationship led to tension and resentment between the friends.

Art always believed that Patrick and Tashi didn't truly love each other, even though their relationship seemed fine. His doubts eventually affected the couple, turning them from lovers into rivals on the tennis court. Art's interference led to the downfall of his best friend's relationship.

Unfortunately, Tashi's relationship fell apart just before a crucial match against another university. Overwhelmed by heartache and anger, Tashi lost focus and sprained her leg during the game. This injury was devastating, as legs are vital for tennis players.

Tashi had to undergo a medical examination, and the doctor advised her to stop playing tennis for a while. This has truly jeopardized her career by missing several important matches. During this tough time, Art tried to get closer to Tashi.

When Patrick heard about Tashi's injury, he rushed to see her. However, instead of a warm reception, Tashi lashed out upon seeing Patrick and demanded he leave. Art also told Patrick to stay away from them. Patrick vanished from Tashi and Art's lives ever since, believing it was best for everyone.

Tashi and Art grew closer and eventually decided to start a relationship. Their romance flourished, and they became celebrated athletes in America. Many big brands partnered with them, and a major highlight was when Art married Tashi and they had a lovely daughter.

Years later, under Tashi’s guidance, Art became a top professional tennis player, just one victory away from completing the Career Grand Slam. To help him, Tashi entered Art into the wild card round of a major tennis event called the Challenger, held in New Rochelle, New York in 2019.

Unexpectedly, Patrick, who was still actively playing tennis, also joined this prestigious event. He learned that the wild card entrants would face Art Donaldson and was thrilled at the prospect.

Patrick played exceptionally well and made it to the wild card round, setting up a reunion match with Art. When Art found out his next opponent was his former best friend, he was upset. He saw Patrick as his biggest rival.

All the memories of Patrick came back, causing Art to lose his motivation to play. He confided in Tashi that he planned to retire from tennis after the Challengers event. Tashi, who was deeply committed to helping Art reach the top, felt both sad and frustrated, as if all her efforts were in vain.

Not wanting Art to give up, Tashi asked Patrick to let Art win so he could feel confident again. Patrick was upset by this, but they talked it over and agreed. As part of their agreement, Tashi and Patrick had sex while reminiscing their old relationship.

On the day of the final match, Patrick and Art played very hard against each other. Both really wanted to win. During the last part of the match, Patrick remembered he had promised to let Art win. But at the same time, he was thinking about telling Art that Tashi had been unfaithful the night before. He also thought a lot about their friendship.

In a pivotal moment, Patrick used a secret service code that only he and Art knew. This signaled to Art that Tashi had been unfaithful with Patrick. Surprisingly, this revelation made Art feel relieved rather than angry. He decided to play the final points fairly. The game got more intense, and Art won by his own skill. After the game, Art and Patrick hugged, making up after everything that happened.

Zendaya Shines in a Challenging Role!

In this film, Zendaya portrays a character unlike any she has played before. She steps into the shoes of a top-tier tennis athlete that displays impressive skills. Taking on this role was not easy, as Zendaya herself shared during her interview at Academy Conversation.

Zendaya described her character, Tashi, as both exciting and daunting. However, she successfully grew through the challenges, bringing to life the complex, driven, and somewhat troubled tennis enthusiast. Her character is so convincing that you might believe she's a professional athlete!

Sensitive Content Alert

The film, written by Justin Kuritzkes, is rated for adults due to its numerous explicit scenes. This content might be commonplace in some regions, but has necessitated edits by censorship boards in various countries to align with local standards.

Despite these modifications, the storyline remains intact and engaging. However, it's important to note that some scenes, though toned down, may still be intense for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

Drawn-Out Finale

In the movie's final scenes, when Patrick and Art reunite, there's an overuse of slow-motion. A few seconds of this might not bother anyone, but extending these effects for minutes can be very distracting.

It seems the director aimed to create a dramatic impact with this technique. However, instead of building tension, it tends to bore the audience, leading some to comment that it drags on too long. Additionally, the movie ends on an ambiguous note, which might leave viewers wanting more. You'll need to see it for yourself to understand the ending.

Tennis enthusiasts and drama fans might find the film particularly engaging, but even those not familiar with tennis could enjoy this 131-minute movie. Showpoiler rates it 3 out of 5 stars, with performances by Zendaya, Josh O'Connor, and Mike Faist.