Challengers is a love triangle with tennis as a backdrop. The plot (by Justin Kuritzkes) is novel and neatly incorporates sports, romance, drama and a lot more. A few scenes are arresting and well-executed by Luca Guadagnino. However, the film gets silly after a point and one wonders where the film is going. The climax is tense and though it is unexpected, it’s also abrupt and bizarre; one wishes it ended on a better note. Zendaya looks ravishing and as a performer, she puts her best foot forward. But she also looks too young for the role. The same applies to Mike Faist. Josh O’Connor leaves a huge mark. All in all, Challengers is not worth the hype.
My rating – ** out of 5!