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The Dink

Play trailer 2:22 Poster for The Dink PG-13 2026 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
79% Tomatometer 19 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.

Critics Reviews

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Carla Meyer San Francisco Chronicle 5h
The Dink pays homage to the ‘00s sub-subgenre that included the gems Dodgeball and Talladega Nights and duds Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro, themselves all spiritual descendants of Caddyshack. Go to Full Review Matt Schimkowitz AV Club 5h
B
There’s no parade of celebrity cameos or overstaged pratfalls, just well-defined characters, leisurely pickleball action, and enthusiastic performances that hit hard with light taps. Go to Full Review David Ehrlich IndieWire 5h
B-
For all of the affection it maintains for the dorkiness of pickleball, it’s ironically hard not to wonder just how much richer this movie might have been if it were just a little more at peace with playing on its own terms. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) 12m
I really enjoyed it. A nice little comedy. Mary Steenburgen is great in it Go to Full Review Robert Kojder Flickering Myth 59m
3/5
There is an old-school Adam Sandler feel to director Josh Greenbaum’s tennis/pickleball rivalry comedy The Dink, ensuring it’s just funny and charming enough to work Go to Full Review Michael Clark Epoch Times 2h
3/5
Johnson is called on to play an abrasive and delusional spoiled brat who we hate and ultimately transforms into someone we can root for. That’s a tall order few actors can pull off with conviction. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Josh Greenbaum

Director

Jake Johnson

Dusty Boyd

Mary Steenburgen

Candace

Ed Harris

Chuck Boyd

Ben Stiller

Dr. Stone

Patton Oswalt

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The Dink

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The Dink

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Movie Info

Synopsis Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck's (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father's approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck's vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father's affection and his very identity.
Director
Josh Greenbaum
Producer
Ben Stiller, John Lesher, Rob Paris, Mike Witherill, Jake Johnson
Screenwriter
Sean Clements
Distributor
Apple TV
Production Co
Red Hour Films, Rivulet Media, Apple Original Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 24, 2026