Challengers Review: Zendaya Gives One of Her Most Electric Performances Yet

But Challengers is a much more cheerful affair, thanks in large part to the presence of Zendaya, Chalamet’s Dune co-star, who is just as sassy off the field as she is on it.

She plays Tisha, a rising star in the world of tennis. Yet when we first meet her, she is very high-minded.

She and her husband Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) are apparently living the dream, raising their young daughter Lily in expensive five-star hotels and watching the money roll in as they take part in a glossy ad campaign for Aston Martin, with their photo next to the slogan “game Changers”.

More like this

But behind this luxurious lifestyle lie problems: Art is on a losing streak, and although he seeks a career grand slam at the US Open, he is losing his love for the game.

Tisha is a type-A, win-at-all-costs personality (“Decimate that little bitch,” she demands of her husband), and as we’ll see in a story that moves through time faster than a Federer. On the other hand, she went from being a player to being a coach at some point in her career.

When she advises Art to enter a local tournament in New York, compete against companions and regain his confidence, the plan backfires for the simple reason that Art’s old friend Patrick (Josh O’ Connor), participates in the tournament.

Reinforcing their story, the film goes back 13 years, when Art and Patrick were doubles partners and Tisha was the hottest thing on the college tennis circuit.

Both fall in love with her, and after a fun evening of drinking beers and three-way kissing in a hotel room, Tisha cheekily says that she will only give her number to the one who beats the other in a match. Thus begins a romantic rivalry worthy of anything these two players have fought on the field.

When the story returns to the present day, Patrick is down on his luck, without even enough money to pay for his motel room (he soon uses Tinder to find a date and have a roof over his head ).

The result is a film about friendships, how they can be trampled by love, and how life isn’t always about winning, despite how professional athletes are groomed to crush everyone.

Better yet, it’s an interesting insight into the world of professional tennis, something Hollywood has rarely bothered with (let’s forget Paul Bettany-starrer Wimbledon, shall we?).

Guadagnino gets a real feel for the game, creating with his editor Marco Costa a dizzying series of tennis sequences (including an exchange from the point of view of the ball, as it is crushed back and forth).

But in reality, it’s the film’s deft verbal volleys – largely delivered by the imperious Zendaya – that propel the film forward.

Unfortunately, the indulgent final act doesn’t quite measure up, with the tension draining from the conflict between Art and Patrick on the field, as Guadagnino drags out the game interminably.

Still, that aside, Challengers is a light-hearted film that will appeal to a wide audience hungry for a sexy match on screen. O’Connor and The Crown’s Faist, who most exploded on screen in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, are both easy on the eyes, though pale next to Zendaya, who gives one of her strongest performances. most electric to date.

By showing her full range, you can imagine that filmmakers will now see her in a whole new light. game, set and match.

Challengers arrives in UK cinemas on Friday April 26.

Check out more of our movie coverage or visit our TV guide and streaming guide to find out what’s on. To hear more about TV’s biggest stars, listen to The Radio Times podcast.