Challengers: An Entertaining Sports Drama That Falls Short Of Greatness

Ever since the first Challengers trailer was released 10 months ago, the film quickly gained attention and became one of 2024’s most anticipated features. As early screenings took place before its official release, some individuals were calling it the best film of 2024 so far. And though Challengers has much to appreciate, the film doesn't quite achieve greatness.

Challengers plays out as a love triangle, with both Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor) pursuing Tashi (Zendaya), who used to be one of the greatest tennis players of her time. However, an injury forced her to retire from the sport early. In the present day, she is married to fellow tennis player Art and helps coach him.

To make things even more complicated, Tashi also had a past relationship with Art’s former best friend, Patrick, who is also a tennis player. As the film covers a significant period, viewers experience the evolution of Art and Patrick’s relationship, and each moment they share on screen is a thrilling experience. We see the pair transition from friends to enemies, resulting in a twisted dynamic marked by animosity as they compete for the attention of the same woman.

The chemistry between O’Connor and Faist is electric. They both deliver incredible performances and create palpable tension between the characters that carries throughout most of the film. It elicits discomfort while simultaneously making you desire more to keep you on your toes. Both characters are equally frustrating, but for very different reasons. Patrick’s arrogance is extremely off-putting, yet you can’t help but admire his confidence and boldness. On the flip side, Art is incredibly frustrating as an individual. He’s incapable of standing his ground with Tashi and pursuing his true aspirations, though he embodies the most humanity among all the characters, evoking moments of sympathy.

Since Euphoria first aired, Zendaya has showcased serious acting chops, and Challengers is by far her best performance since then. Tashi is a master manipulator, and Zendaya’s ability to embrace the imperfections of her character shows her remarkable talent. When you leave a viewing experience really disliking a character, you know the actor involved has done an outstanding job.

But where Challengers excels most is during each tennis scene, which is full of tension from beginning to end. Luca Guadagnino’s attention to detail and fine direction makes it feel as though you are experiencing a tennis match in real-time. As the ball darts back and forth between each of the players, taking you on a journey from one side of the court to the other, you can’t take your eyes off the prize and are fully engrossed in the experience. If the intense tennis scenes weren't magical enough, each sequence is elevated further by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' seductive, intoxicating score, which really ups the ante.

Though Challengers has much to admire, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat underwhelmed by the film once the credits rolled. The performances, along with the intense tennis scenes and the sexy score, are all noteworthy, yet, outside of the sport, the story is a pretty run-of-the-mill love triangle.

Don’t get me wrong, Challengers’ tennis matches alone will be enough to keep you invested in the narrative. They are extremely creative, impressive, and exhilarating to watch. However, in the absence of those high-intensity tennis scenes, each character is hollow, and the simplistic storyline lacks the depth to elevate the narrative to excellence and give the film a unique edge.

Overall, Challengers is entertaining, but I’m not quite ready to label it one of this year’s best.

3.5/5