Critic Reviews

Despite a plot that goes in and out of consciousness and a 102-minute runtime that approaches bloat, The Dink matches “Barb and Star” in laughs per scene, and eventually, a sense of hopefulness. Don’t wait for it to be rediscovered.

The truth is that a likable ensemble of this caliber can go a long way to overcoming nitpicks about overly familiar sports comedy tropes and issues with pacing.

The Dink is the sort of loosely tossed-together comedy in which you suspect the actors are ad-libbing half of their lines, but it works. The cast is full of funny people in supporting roles, popping up like bouncing tennis balls.

Leading things is Johnson, who finally gets the perfect starring role for his raspy-voiced charms and overworked confidence. He anchors The Dink with his off-the-cuff style and Ricky Bobby’s dickhead arrogance.

It's not groundbreaking, nor is it going to live in the ranks of the greatest sports comedies of all time. But it offers enough laughs and charm to keep you entertained for much longer than a pickleball match.

Much like Josh Greenbaum’s other films (“Barb & Star Go To Vista Del Mar,” “Hal & Harper”), The Dink is an all-around good time with good laughs and a strong heart. Its familiar beats are welcomed with open arms, and the laughs give the audience a pleasant reason to smile in these grueling, serious times.

It’s not a full meal of a movie. It’s a snack that is wholly without nutritional value, but it is pretty tasty for the most part. It’s the kind of movie that you’ll be glad it exists, even if by this time next week you’ll probably forget that it does.

For all of the affection it maintains for the dorkiness of pickleball, it’s ironically hard not to wonder just how much richer this movie might have been if it were just a little more at peace with playing on its own terms.

In one version of the world it could have been “The Cutting Edge.” But “The Dink” chose the grounded, goofy route, with memorably eccentric characters and a few high profile cameos that add up to an enjoyable watch.

There’s nothing hard-charging about this sports comedy placebo from producer-star Ben Stiller. It’s easy, breezy and light on its feet, and who says that on a lazy summer night a dink can’t win the game.