‘Challengers’ Review: Luca Guadagnino’s Zendaya-Led Dramedy About Love And Rivalry Across The Tennis Court
deadline.comIn Challengers, Luca Guadagnino serves up a film that is as much about the volleys of human emotion as it is about the physical rallies on the tennis court.
Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist and penned by Justin Kuritzkes, the film explores the complexities of love, friendship and competition through the lens of a sport that mirrors the finesse and intensity required in personal relationships as the narrative unfolds in a series of flashbacks that show us the origins of these relationships during their high school years and how a love triangle disrupts their friendship.
Set against the backdrop of professional tennis, Challengers opens on a match between Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Faist), watched intensely by Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) from the stands.
The tension is palpable, hinting at a shared history that the film soon unpacks, tracing back to the trio’s younger years. The film cleverly uses the sport as a metaphor for the characters’ interpersonal dynamics.
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