---
title: "The Dink"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-dink"
fi1m_id: "the-dink"
imdb_id: "tt33499146"
tmdb_id: 1361774
wikidata_id: "Q131313219"
fi1m_score: 59
critics_score: 59
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-09-23T11:47:46.050454+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-23T11:48:11.151761+00:00"
region: "CZ"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Dink (2026)

Directed by Josh Greenbaum · 1h 43m · MK 12+ · Comedy

## Identity

The Dink

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-dink
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** the-dink
- **IMDb ID:** tt33499146
- **TMDB ID:** 1361774
- **Wikidata ID:** Q131313219
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33499146/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1361774, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q131313219

**Fi1m score: 59** · Critics 59 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* The pickleball is competitive; the jokes seem happier just taking part

> Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen make agreeable company in a pickleball comedy that struggles to find enough good jokes. Their friendship provides some warmth, but the familiar sporting business gives us little reason to recommend it.

## Synopsis

Dustin ‘The Hammer’ Boyd (Jake Johnson) is a washed-up tennis professional who enters the world of pickleball. The change of sport puts him back in the position of an underdog, alongside Candace (Mary Steenburgen), Chuck Boyd (Ed Harris) and PJ (Aaron Chen). As Dustin finds his way into the game, his friendship with Candace gives him a connection beyond the competition. Their relationship is not romantic. His attempt at a sporting comeback runs alongside this friendship, with a different game offering the former tennis player another chance to take part.

## Review

Josh Greenbaum’s *The Dink* is a mild sports comedy with an appealing central friendship and too little comic invention to earn a recommendation. Sean Clements’s screenplay puts a washed-up tennis professional into pickleball and follows a familiar underdog course. There is nothing wrong with that starting point, or with keeping the stakes small. The trouble is that the film too often settles for being agreeable when it needs to be funny.

Jake Johnson plays Dustin ‘The Hammer’ Boyd, whose move from tennis into pickleball gives the film its premise. He is an easy presence to build a comedy around, and his relaxed manner helps the familiar material along. But charm has a limit when the sporting plot offers so little that is unexpected. He makes the film comfortable to spend time with, although the script leaves him doing too much of that work himself.

Mary Steenburgen, as Candace, gives him someone worth spending that time with. We warmed to their friendship because the film lets it remain a friendship, without turning it into a romance. Their chemistry makes the stretches spent simply in each other’s company more enjoyable than the competition around them. This is also where the film’s gentleness becomes a virtue: it allows two appealing performers to establish a connection without insisting that every exchange produce a joke.

Elsewhere, it could insist a little harder. Aaron Chen supplies a welcome comic contribution as PJ, but the ensemble cannot keep compensating for material that feels recycled. Sean Clements’s screenplay needs more invention within its familiar sporting framework, especially when the pleasure of the central relationship has shown what the film can offer. Knowing roughly where an underdog comedy is heading need not spoil the evening; recognising too much of the business along the way makes it harder to stay interested.

Greg Hayden’s editing does not overcome that unevenness. At 103 minutes, the film is not unusually long, but the patchy pace makes its shortage of strong material more noticeable. The scenes between the leads give it a reason to slow down, while the thin sporting plot needs more momentum than it acquires. We would happily accept a leisurely comedy if the time spent away from the competition consistently offered this much warmth.

The film has cinematography by Carl Herse, production design by Caity Birmingham and music by Dara Taylor, but its main weakness lies in the writing. No additional flourish from those departments would supply the missing comic surprise. Josh Greenbaum is right not to force a gentle friendship into a nastier film; we simply wanted him and Sean Clements to give that friendship better jokes.

There is room for a sports comedy that keeps its ambitions modest and treats its characters kindly. *The Dink* has enough affection to make its shortcomings disappointing rather than infuriating, and Mary Steenburgen remains a persuasive reason to consider it. The friendship may be sufficient for an evening when agreeable company is the main requirement. Anyone coming chiefly for the jokes should keep looking.

*Fi1m score 59, published 23 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus on The Dink is mixed, with praise clustering around the cast rather than the sports-comedy plotting. Jake Johnson’s easy charm and his chemistry with Mary Steenburgen give the more favourable reviews their main reason to recommend it. The scenes between the leads, particularly their friendship, draw more enthusiasm than the pickleball competition. Even several less persuaded critics find warmth and charm in the ensemble, while supporters enjoy the modest stakes and familiar underdog story.

The divide is over whether that familiarity remains entertaining. Recycled gags, predictable plotting and a shortage of energy recur among the reservations, with some critics also noting pacing problems. Reactions to the comedy vary sharply: The AV Club finds substantial laughs in its undemanding approach, while The Wrap finds the jokes fail to pay off and singles out Steenburgen for praise. Most reviews sit between those positions, describing something pleasant but limited.

## Straight answers

**Is The Dink worth watching?**

*The Dink* offers warm company but too few good jokes for us to recommend it; we score it 59 out of 100. Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen’s non-romantic friendship is its strongest feature, so it may suit an undemanding evening, but the familiar sporting plot and patchy pace limit its appeal.

**How long is The Dink, and what is it rated?**

*The Dink* runs 1h 43m and is rated 12+ by the MK in Czechia. It is a comedy film.

**Where can I watch The Dink in Czechia?**

*The Dink* is streaming on Apple TV in Czechia. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is The Dink, and is it suitable for children?**

*The Dink* has a UK 12 certificate, so it is not a blanket recommendation for younger children. We describe it as a mild, gentle sports comedy, but that describes its tone rather than establishing the absence of violence or frightening material; the certificate remains the clearest guide to age suitability.

### Reviews we read (11)

- **The AV Club**, Matt Schimkowitz (B): The critic calls it a light pickleball comedy that serves big laughs with an effortless Jake Johnson anchoring an endearing underdog tale. The film efficiently delivers low-lift laughs and warm chemistry while keeping stakes small and family-friendly. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-dink-review)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (75/100, inferred): The critic describes the film as a sweet Apple TV comedy in which Jake Johnson discovers the joys of pickleball alongside Mary Steenburgen and Ed Harris. It follows a classic underdog 'save the farm' structure with warmth and appeal. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-dink-movie-review-pickleball-apple-tv-1235206293/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a likable underdog sports comedy buoyed by strong performances from Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen, despite familiar tropes and some pacing issues. The ensemble chemistry and fun tone make it work as an easy, entertaining watch. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-dink)
- **Empire**, Beth Webb (65/100, inferred): A light, throwback sports comedy that works best in the hangout scenes between its leads but is held back by recycled gags and a thin central plot. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-dink/)
- **Radio Times**, James Mottram (3/5): The critic describes it as a cheery, undemanding and breezy comedy that is as predictable as it is pleasant, likening the gentle humor to a pickleball rally and noting its Stiller-produced echoes of Dodgeball. They single out the non-romantic friendship storyline between the leads and the standout comic turn from Aaron Chen as particularly enjoyable. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-dink-review/)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (55/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a watchable but entirely vanilla and formulaic underdog sports comedy that spins a predictable tale of triumph. Johnson's appealing screen persona and the presence of a strong ensemble provide some charm, but the material lacks edge or memorability. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-dink-review-jake-johnson-pickleball-apple-tv-1236650681/)
- **Variety**, Guy Lodge (55/100, inferred): The critic describes a mild, amiable sports comedy that coasts on Jake Johnson's charm and the chemistry with Mary Steenburgen but lacks big laughs or energy, feeling formulaic and sitcom-like overall. The central dynamic between the leads stands out as the most interesting element. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/the-dink-review-1236818906/)
- **Evening Standard**, Martin Robinson (49/100, inferred): A disappointingly gentle and soft-edged pickleball comedy that lacks the anarchic energy of classic sports films and fails to make the most of its promising premise and cast. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-dink-review-pickleball-movie-apple-tv-b1291157.html)
- **The Times** (40/100, inferred): The film is a painfully formulaic farce about a washed-up tennis pro entering the world of pickleball. One well-judged intimate moment between the leads stands out amid the mostly dull and tedious sports-genre business. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/dink-review-film-josh-greenbaum-jake-johnson-ben-stiller-mary-steenburgen-ms8vbszcw)
- **Collider**, Nate Richard (7/10): The film is a formulaic sports comedy that offers enough laughs and charm to entertain despite its predictability. The standout element is the ultra-charming cast led by Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen, whose chemistry and heart elevate the story. [Read](https://collider.com/the-dink-review-apple-tv-jake-johnson/)
- **The Wrap** (20/100, inferred): The critic finds the film boring and extremely unfunny, with joke ideas that never pay off. They single out Mary Steenburgen's performance for praise amid the lack of energy and commitment to its sports-comedy premise. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/the-dink-review-apple-tv-jake-johnson-ed-harris/)

## Details

- **Director:** Josh Greenbaum
- **Director:** Josh Greenbaum
- **Writer:** Sean Clements
- **Cinematography:** Carl Herse
- **Editor:** Greg Hayden
- **Music:** Dara Taylor
- **Production design:** Caity Birmingham
- **Costume design:** Beth Morgan
- **Producer:** Ben Stiller, John Lesher, Rob Paris
- **Cast:** Jake Johnson as Dustin 'The Hammer' Boyd; Mary Steenburgen as Candace; Chloe Fineman as Marisa; Aaron Chen as PJ; Patton Oswalt as Skip 'Piggy' Pigliani; Andy Roddick as Andy Roddick; John McEnroe as John McEnroe; Ben Stiller as Dr. Stone
- **Runtime:** 1h 43m
- **Certificate (MK):** 12+
- **Release (Czechia):** 24 July 2026
- **Genres:** Comedy
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyVNFzx5Pl8

## Where to watch in Czechia

- Apple TV: streaming, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-23.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PH, PL, PT, SE, SG, TH, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story* (2004): For another sporting underdog comedy, with considerably less interest in good manners.
- *The Bad News Bears* (1976): For sporting failure, difficult company and affection that avoids becoming sugary.
- *Cool Runnings* (1993): For an approachable underdog comedy that gives its sporting outsiders some warmth.
- *Shaolin Soccer* (2001): For a sports comedy willing to take physical absurdity much further.
- *Swimming with Men* (2018): For another modest sporting pursuit complicated by middle-aged pride and friendship.

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© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-dink