The Dink
- 35 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Packed with laughs, well cast actors having a blast and enough Pickleball to pack five courts, THE DINK made me laugh a lot.
Jake Johnson was so hilarious on "New Girl" that I felt bad for him when his big co-starring role with Tom Cruise was part of "The Mummy", one of the worst films of the past decade. It wasn't his fault that thing bombed, but it's great to see him back in fine form, generating big laughs here.
He stars as Tennis Pro Dusty "The Hammer" Boyd. As a supremely cocky teen, Hammer was on a rocket to the top, until he was derailed by the villainous Andy Roddick.
Dusty cruises around in his 30 year old compact sedan, spewing stories of his glory days to anyone that will listen. His best audience is his loyal sidekick PJ (Aaron Chen) whose level of idolizing The Hammer borders on the obsessive. Chen is hilarious, delivering every defense of his mate with complete fever.
Dustin and PJ work at the upscale Mountain Crest Tennis Club owned by Dustin's father Chuck. Ed Harris (The Rock, The Abyss) drops some serious comedic timing as a Dad horrified by his slacker offspring. His hate for the everyday sport of Pickleball infecting his country club drives some big, big laughs.
Chloe Fineman (SNL) is LOL funny as Dustin's ex Marisa. Their banter seems to come from another universe.
Johnson nails every facial reaction and response to these people with the same effortless ease that he did for many season on New Girl. We buy everything that's going on, no matter how goofy, because he's our trusted center of the film. He made us laugh A LOT.
Patton Oswalt is Skip, the dorky leader of the Pickleball pack that's taking over the revered halls of wealth. Chris Parnell delivers as the best tennis player at the club, except for Dusty, who can play at a pro level, until he feels pressure, then things seem to go hilariously wrong.
Ben Stiller steals every scene he's in as a perverted Doctor who delivers the most awkward bedside manner possible for anyone in his examination room.
Fortune Feimster is very funny as a Pickleball player determined to out grunt any tennis player at the club on every stroke.
Rounding out the veteran cast is Mary Steenburgen (Time After Time, Step Brothers) as Candace, the first pickleball player that Dustin meets and bans from the club, before his Dad reminds him he has zero power.
What happens next is predictable but winning. I knew what the finale was going to be an hour before it unfolded, but I was having so much fun, who cares!?
Writer Sean Clements and Director Josh Greenbaum fill the whole thing with so much well executed physical comedy, easy laughs and prime set ups that it flies by on its way to a very funny conclusion.
Johnson also manages to give Dusty just enough of a human edge that the relationships with those around him pack a little unexpected weight. The dialogue and comedy volleys between Johnson and veteran Steenburgen are a thing of beauty. After seeing her verbal battles with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, you KNOW she's up to it, even if the whole "Graduate" angle doesn't quite work.
There are some seriously funny cameos as well, including one by a very big tennis star who's appetite is even bigger than his ego.
If you like Happy Gilmore you're going to love THE DINK. It gets a perfectly enjoyable, lightweight B.
The ladies Pickleball group alone is worth the price of admission..."Bitch!" LOL
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