Challengers is the movie you must watch right now, whether you’re a tennis fan or not.
Sports and I don’t mix. The only ones I’ll willingly pay attention to are swimming and diving, and that’s only because of the scantily clad participants. Don’t even ask me about tennis. My knowledge is limited to Anna Kournikova, the Williams sisters, and Roger Federer. However, thanks to Zendaya and those threesome memes, I parked myself at The Projector for two hours to catch Challengers and find out what’s all the fuss about this movie.
Challengers review: Let’s start with real-life moments that inspired the movie
The movie follows Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former top tennis player who’s roped into coaching her husband, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), years after an unfortunate accident. Art is currently in his loser era, and to help him overcome his streak, Tashi suggests participating in a challenger match, aka the lowest level in a pro tennis tournament. Things get spicy when the couple learns Art will face off against Patrick Zweig, his former best friend (and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend).
First things first: is the film based on a true story? The answer’s no, though an actual event inspires it. In an interview with Radio Times, screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes highlights a moment during the 2018 US Open when Serena Williams was penalised towards the end of the match for receiving coaching from the sidelines. She vehemently denied that happened.
“I had never heard that you’re not allowed to speak with your coach during the match. And immediately, it struck me as really cinematic,” Justin said.
The inspiration doesn’t stop there, it seems. Serena points out the similarity between Art and Roger Federer, which she highlights in her review for Vogue. “A lot of male tennis players really rely on their wives and girlfriends. Just look at someone like Roger Federer: he used to actually hit with his wife, Mirka, and they were like glue,” she noted. Meanwhile, Justin tells GQ that Roger’s wife, Mirka Federer, helped shape Zendaya’s character. Just like Tashi, Mirka used to be a tennis player before an injury cut her career short. After that, she “kind of” became her husband’s manager.
It’s not just about tennis
Here’s a hot take I want to get out of the way: it’s unfair to label this as a “romantic sports drama” ‘cos it’s clearly more than that. There were some hilarious scenes, like the menage a trois that takes place 40 minutes into the movie, and whenever the two male leads appear on screen as their younger counterparts. Of course, what’s a sports flick without hot and steamy scenes? I lost count of the sweaty close-ups, grunts throughout the tennis match, swinging penises in the changing room… you get the drift.
One of Challengers’ strengths lies in the script. It’s gripping, with developed characters, snappy dialogue, and excellently written, well-timed scenes. The film had me in a chokehold from the first tight shots and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout its two-hour runtime. That’s an achievement, especially for someone who gets distracted once his attention wanes. I’d say it’s largely because of the non-linear narrative, which shuttles back and forth throughout the film after a look, an uttered sentence, and even a triggered memory.
Even though I appreciated the writing, the movie was a little draggy towards the end, like a long, drawn-out tennis match. It was also around that same time when a couple of plot points unravelled predictably, like the aftermath of Tashi and Patrick’s altercation in the alley and at the parking lot during the second storm.
Regardless, that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the film. Sometimes, you need a little bit of predictability amongst all the chaos. Justin knew when to amp up the drama and insert the quieter moments.
Winning the points that matter
A script is only as good as the person who directs it, and here’s where I have to commend Luca Guadagnino. In any other director’s hands, the film would’ve probably suffered from poor, overthought execution. I’m glad Luca is at the helm. I consider Challengers the adult, hardened equivalent of the rosy, hormonally-charged Call Me By Your Name movie. This is largely because of its soft focus lenses and tight shots whenever the characters eyeball each other – whether it’s a blank stare, desperate, longing looks, or furtive glances.
Luca has a knack for lifting the written material off the pages, making everything come to life and enhancing what’s been written. He can probably make even the phonebook appear interesting when adapted to the screen. The Justin Kuritzkes-Luca Guadagnino tag team is a match made in tennis heaven, just like the three actors who serendipitously end up as the film’s leads. There’s nothing else I can say or add without appearing like a rabid fanboy.
When it comes to cinematography, the word that comes to mind is breathtaking. What’s a tennis movie without aerial shots of the court? It really sets the stage for the match and the entire film. I also loved the bright green and blue hues that shone through; they livened up the movie as it’s set primarily in the city.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film’s score. If you’re not familiar with the duo, they’re the ones behind The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s grungy, thumping music. Normally, I’m a fan of their work, but for Challengers, I felt there was a bit of a mismatch. Some scenes benefited from their compositions (tennis matches and techno beats should be the standard from now on), while in others, it felt like the music was too loud or just didn’t gel well with what was playing out on screen.
A homewrecker and her two little white boys
Good script? Check. Excellent direction? Check. Amazing performances? I’m cutting them a cheque!
Zendaya is that friend who always says they’re unsure if they did well… when they actually did. You might have doubts about how she’ll pull this role off, no thanks to the Spider-Man trilogy and Euphoria, but honey, she didn’t win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress (twice!) for nothing. She didn’t come to play in Challengers – she came to win and show everyone what she’s got.
Most reviewers say Tashi is a mean person, but I didn’t see that. To me, she’s just human. She’s tough and emotionally avoidant, but that comes with her extensive tennis training and subsequent traumatic injury. She’s also slightly empathetic, but those moments are only in service for the greater good: winning.
Tashi is the definition of “doing whatever it takes to emerge victorious”. Zendaya chewed up each scene like gum, and when she spit them on my face, the only thing I could do was thank her. She’s that good. As Naomi Campbell said on her show, The Face: “I can never go wrong with her.” Period!
Between the two male leads, I felt that Josh O’Connor got the more showy, meatier role. He really brought Patrick’s loser-who-thinks-he-knows-and-has-it-all characteristics to the next level. Josh turned in such a spellbinding, magnetic performance; I couldn’t help but root for Patrick not to lose in the challenger match against Art. That said, Mike Faist more than held his own alongside Zendaya and Josh. He conveyed a spectrum of emotions, from an earnest Golden Retriever-type teenager to a down-but-not-out tennis champion. I’m keen to see what roles he’ll take up next.
In addition to their strengths, the three actors also knew how to complement each other. It’s so much fun to watch them on the screen together. I reserve my applause wholeheartedly for whenever Josh and Mike are in the scenes. It’s just electric between the two; you can’t afford to look away even for a second. The churros and sauna sequences kept me seated.
Challengers went somewhere really beautiful
A friend of mine said he had a “spiritual experience” during and after watching Challengers. “It made me feel a type of way – aroused and motivated to increase the frequency of tennis I play weekly,” he told me.
I laughed it off initially, thinking it was hyperbole. But as I sat in my seat and watched the credits roll, I understood exactly what he meant. Challengers is more than just another tennis movie. It’s an insight into the lengths people will put themselves through to attain something. Are you okay with setting your morals aside to win a sports tournament?
One thing I want to address is the queerbaiting accusations lobbied against the film. The term refers to a marketing technique where homoeroticism is intentionally used to draw the queer audience in. Personally, I don’t see it. Is it homoerotic between Mike and Josh’s characters? Sure, but it’s not deliberate. It’s a deep connection – a bromance coupled with friendly (and eventually unfriendly) competition and jealousy. There’s nothing misleading about them or their orientations. I find this a weak argument.
Whether you’re excited to catch Challengers because of Zendaya or you’re put off by the hype, give the movie a chance and watch it with an open mind. Maybe you won’t have a spiritual experience, but you’ll at least feel something. Me? I’m now obsessed with tennis… and making those grunting sounds. Ugh!
