Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sex talk, language, injury in goofy pickleball comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Dink
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Tennis pro Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) is known as "The Hammer" for his strong forearm in THE DINK. He teaches tennis classes at his dad Chuck's (Ed Harris) club with loyal sidekick PJ (Aaron Chen), but he's still getting over the fact that the professional tennis career his dad raised him to have never panned out. When he aggravates an old wrist injury, his doctor (Ben Stiller) prescribes pickleball. Dusty's condescending attitude toward the sport slowly transforms when he begins playing with some older ladies and befriends one of them, Candace (Mary Steenburgen). But meanwhile, the club is fighting off a growing pickleball community that wants to transform more tennis courts for their game.
Is It Any Good?
This slightly uneven comedy will delight pickleball players everywhere, and it has enough laughs and emotional beats to appease other viewers as well. Pickleball watch parties of The Dink could become a thing. But if you're not involved in the worlds (or rivalries) of tennis and pickleball, some of the humor may fall flat, and without that, the film loses its main comedic thread. Some goofiness will still land, particularly through sidekick PJ, played by Aaron Chen.
But, for example, Harris's correlation of the rise of pickleball to the "decline of humanity" might not be as hilarious if you don't know any serious tennis players. Cameo appearances by John McEnroe and Andy Roddick are priceless, but more so if you've followed their careers. Meanwhile, the core dramatic storylines—a 40-something struggling with identity and daddy issues and his friendship with an older woman—offer just enough emotional pull to justify the feature film. Considering the average age of pickleball players, Steenburgen's character broadens the film's appeal, although teens might be less interested.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the contention that exists between pickleball and tennis players, a main theme of The Dink. What do you know about this rivalry? Why does it exist?
Do you have to play or be familiar with pickleball to appreciate this film? Who is the intended audience? How can you tell?
How do the characters challenge stereotypes of typical friendships and romances in movies?
Which characters, if any, do you consider role models in this film?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 24, 2026
- Cast : Jake Johnson , Mary Steenburgen , Ed Harris
- Director : Josh Greenbaum
- Studio : Apple TV / Apple Original Films
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Competition , Family Stories ( Dads ) , Friendship , Sports ( Tennis )
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong language and sexual material
- Last updated : July 21, 2026
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