Jake Johnson Serves Up Solid Comedic Timing in ‘The Dink’ (Review)

Even though pickleball is sweeping the nation, it’s still niche enough in the film and TV world that it’s no surprise this new comedy is hitting streaming first--despite its impressive roster. With Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) directing, Ben Stiller producing (and co-starring), and Jake Johnson of New Girl fame leading the charge, you would expect the comedy to hit like a body bag (that is pickleball terminology--look it up) full of laughs. However, that isn’t the case with The Dink. Regardless, the film dinks over just enough laughs and sweetness, thanks to its main star, who carries this underdog sports comedy to its predictable end.

The Dink follows Dusty “The Hammer” Boyd (Johnson), who works at his dad’s (Ed Harris) country club serving up tennis lessons to children. Dusty was once a world-renowned tennis prodigy, but a horrific wrist injury during a match against Andy Roddick abruptly ended his young, professional career. Now, he’s living an aimless life, seemingly disappointing his father at every turn. However, when his dad goes on the offensive to prevent pickleball from taking over his country club, Dusty must pick a side: stick to his tennis roots or adapt and embrace the pickleball club he has started to hang around.

On paper, a plot exploring the rivalry between tennis and the rising tide of pickleball is ripe for comedy--especially when you give it an underdog twist. However, The Dink’s formulaic plot can be seen coming from a mile away, and more than a few jokes simply miss the mark. For instance (as seen in the trailer), the scened involving a doctor (Stiller) literally prescribing “pickleball” for Dusty--which Dusty doesn’t realize until he takes the prescription to the pharmacy--falls entirely flat. Writer Sean Clements’ script suffers from several of these eyerolling instances, leaving you wondering if his screenplay needed another polish. But despite these unforced errors, the film still shows potential, much like a newcomer who picks up a new sport and immediately gets the hang of it. There are genuine laughs to be had, and it’s largely thanks to Jake Johnson.

Jake Johnson has had an interesting post-New Girl career, and he proves here that he can absolutely anchor a comedy when given the right material. He carries The Dink for the most part through his persona as Dusty. While the performance might remind some viewers of his iconic role as Nick Miller, that doesn’t matter to me when he’s able to provide this film what it needs: laughs. In the supporting cast, Mary Steenburgen (Step Brothers) is good as a pickleball club member, while Aaron Chen serves up solid chuckles as a country club employee who frequently interacts with Dusty.

The fast-growing world of pickleball may ultimately be better suited for a TV comedy series, but The Dink serves as a solid pilot run for the sport’s onscreen potential. You can’t blame Apple for betting on another sports-centric project, as they already have given us one of the most memorable comedies in years centered around the world’s most popular sport (Ted Lasso). Given the talent assembled here, The Dink is admittedly a bit of a letdown. Still, it serves up enough laughs to be worth you tuning in if you’re looking for a new comedy to stream.