Get ready for the “battle of the exes!”
Tashi Duncan aspired to become a pro tennis player until a knee injury took her off the court. Before that, she caught the romantic attention of two budding tennis players, Arthur and Patrick. Although she initially chooses the bravado Patrick, Tashi found herself marrying the relatively caring Arthur, and manages to coach him to become a tennis champion. Years have passed, and Arthur is on a losing streak, which infuriates the persistent Tashi. To help break his streak, she signs him up for a challengers event in New Rochelle, the lowest level of competition for the pro tour. The catch is that Arthur will be squaring off against Patrick, broke and determined to get back with Tashi. As the former best friends pick up their racquets and enter the court, the film event of the year truly begins.
The trailers, and even the official plot summary for Challengers, are weirdly vague. Although the basic plot elements are on display, it is unclear what to expect in regard to story. This, however, might be intentional on director Luca Guadagnino’s part. The experience of watching this film feels like watching an ultra-tennis match.
The film has intense tennis matches for sure, but the dialogue scenes are even more fierce. So the game continues off the court, too! One can get the sense that these characters are so competitive, both in sports and in affection, that they can never stop competing. Each scene has a new motive established that will possibly lead to something bigger. It is perhaps one of the most intense love triangles in contemporary film.
Like a ball in a tennis match, the film’s plot timeline swooshes back and forth. One minute the story is in the present, then it goes back to 2 weeks earlier. After that, it goes back to 13 years earlier to show the characters meeting, only to go forward another three years, and so on. This method of storytelling, as infuriating as it can be, is unique and benefits the viewing experience. Each time jump presents new elements of history among the three players that help the viewer understand their relationship more. Little by little, these revelations provide new levels of excitement that get viewers to invest in the characters. That is what separates watching films from watching sports. Challengers may not be on the same level of character development as Rocky, but Guadagnino clearly understands investment in characters.
Zendaya has spent the past decade laying down the foundation for her acting career. Long past her humble beginnings on the Disney channel, she has become a critical darling thanks to projects like Euphoria. Challengers shows that she is more than capable of being able to lead a high-profile motion picture. She is physical, cunning, and seductive in her role as Tashi, and does not lose one ounce of steam. Much like her character, one can feel Zendaya in control of each scene as story unravels. If this film was Luca Guadagnino’s tribute to Shakespeare, then Zendaya is essentially Lady Macbeth.
Guadagnino’s intense execution of the story manages to avoid the agonizing traps that many love triangles fall into. The chemistry and acting from the three leads are undeniably vigorous, and viewers might find their dynamics engaging. It is interesting to see how Tashi’s strategies emotionally manipulate Arthur and Patrick into strategizing themselves. One could make the argument that this is more of a chess game than a tennis match. Clearly, there is at least one Queen and two pawns at play.
What truly makes the film work, however, is the look and sound of it. Guadagnino and his frequent cinematographer, Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, make great use of camera movement and angles during the matches. These include tracking shots, wide angles that follow the ball in play, and gorgeous shots in slow motion that highlight physicality. Much like Call Me By Your Name, Challengers has a bright and radiating look that makes one feel within the environment. That, the sound design, and the dynamic score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross manage to enhance the games. Anyone who believes tennis is boring might have trouble backing that up after watching this film. Luca Guadagnino is just one of those filmmakers who knows how to go beyond typical showcasing and immerse the viewer. After all, as mentioned in the film, “tennis is a relationship.”
Could the characters of Challengers have had more depth? Sure. Could the final shot have been less corny? Definitely. Will it be everyone’s cup of tea? Probably not, especially if one doesn’t understand tennis. In the end, though, the accomplishments of Challengers outweigh the flaws. Guadagnino and his team managed to craft a film that rises above expectations of the average filmgoer. It is intense, passionate, funny, entertaining, and shows a clear love and respect for tennis. “It may look like an uncertain story, but it be the backhand under it.” A little Shakespeare on the court, if you will!