‘The Dink’ (2026) Apple TV Movie Review - A Breezy, Charming Pickleball Comedy

You can find some similarities between The Dink and The Hawk. Both are about sports prodigies (tennis here, golf there) who have a certain level of reverence for their dads. Both feature a line in which the prodigies wonder whether they got sucked into the game only because they wanted to spend time with their dads, who don't really embrace their sons' talents until after the climactic match. The players have rocky romantic lives (both are essentially separated from their partners), and both come with a wacky Fortune Feimster performance. This is where the broad connections end. The Dink is a feature film written by Sean Clements and directed by Josh Greenbaum, while The Hawk is a ten-episode Netflix series. Between the two, the former is undoubtedly funnier—it's crisp, light, jovial. The Dink is a pleasing, amusing puff. It goes down easy; it almost acts like a stress-buster.

It's not one of those films where you should be actively concerned about the "plot." The fun lies in spotting and laughing at jokes, both visual and verbal, most of which arise courtesy of Aaron Chen. As PJ, he makes for a wonderful hype machine and best friend to the main character. Chen's delivery makes his lines feel like a natural extension of his personality. Whether he's praising Dusty (Jake Johnson) for the world-building in his amateurish story or interrupting his flashback with logical questions about sanitization, Chen looks adorably at ease in this breezy environment. I had a good laugh when he dived into the swimming pool; his unexpected (yet organic, given his character) physical comedy takes you by surprise and elicits chuckles.

The cast includes such effortless comedians as Patton Oswalt, Ben Stiller, and Chloe Fineman. Even in their small roles, they light you up with their tone, inflections, and gestures. Stiller, with only subtle changes in his expressions, turns a funny moment into something sincere without ever dragging the film into bland, heavy earnestness. And the brief exchange between Dusty and Fineman's Marisa about her infidelity sparkles with comic effervescence. Here's how Marisa ineffectively defends her affairs:

Marisa: "It was one time."

Dusty: "It was eight times."

Marisa: "Yeah, but it was with one guy."

Dusty: "It was with nine guys!"

Marisa: "Oh my god. What, are you Rain Man? You remember everything."

Both Fineman and Johnson go back and forth with such sharp, precise rhythm that the scene becomes a minor gift in itself.

As for Rain Man, it's not the only Dustin Hoffman movie that is explicitly mentioned here. Another name that pops up is The Graduate. Is Dusty's name inspired by that of Dustin Hoffman's? Anyway, The Graduate's influence can certainly be found in Dusty's attraction toward Candace (Mary Steenburgen). But unlike The Graduate, this attraction isn't revealed to be mutual, nor does it lead to sex. Steenburgen is proving herself to be quite the lovely presence of late. She was a treat to watch in A Man on the Inside, and in The Dink, she is a nerdy country music fan whose face lights up with a wide smile. It's very comforting to watch Steenburgen act. She looks so warm, so amiable, that she seems to be extending her hand toward you from the screen to be your friend. Or maybe you're the one who wants to extend a hand to her.

The Dink is full of delightful little jokes—like Dusty looking up pickleball in incognito mode—that put a smile on your face. Even John McEnroe shows up to parody the sports commentators in movies when Dusty plays a pickleball match against—wait for it—Andy Roddick. The Dink is what one could refer to as a "hangout film." It's a project made by friends reveling in the company of friends. Everything is fun and easygoing and smoothly digestible. The whole thing is buoyed by a sense of sweet charm. The Dink puts you in a good mood; it does its job well enough.