Love Is Out: "Challengers" Serves Up a Sexy Psychological Tennis Match
Forget love scores – in "Challengers," tennis serves as the backdrop for a steamy, non-linear love triangle...
prativad 
Forget love scores – in "Challengers," tennis serves as the backdrop for a steamy, non-linear love triangle that keeps you on the edge of your seat for most of the game, only to fumble the final set.
Director Luca Guadagnino ("Call Me By Your Name") returns with another exploration of desire and control. This time, however, the battleground is the tennis court, where winning becomes the ultimate aphrodisiac.
Zendaya shines as Tashi, a former rising star whose career was cut short by injury. Now, she coaches her husband Art (Mike Faist), a champion struggling with self-doubt. There's a clear power dynamic here – Tashi lives vicariously through Art, even pushing him to win "for both of us."
Meanwhile, a past love from their junior days resurfaces: Patrick (Josh O'Connor), a talented player now on a downward spiral. As Art and Patrick face off in a crucial match, flashbacks reveal their shared history with Tashi, leaving us to wonder how things ended up this way.
Sexual tension hangs thick in the air, fueled by Guadagnino's signature style of filming tennis with a seductive intensity. But "Challengers" is about more than just bodies in motion. It explores how the allure of victory can become addictive, blurring the lines between sex and success.
While both guys are open about their desires, Tashi remains an enigma. The non-linear structure adds intrigue, but also leaves some details about her motivations frustratingly unclear.
Despite its captivating first two acts, the ending disappoints. The carefully built tension fizzles out in an unsatisfying way. It's a shame, as the film otherwise delivers a well-paced and visually interesting match.
Ultimately, "Challengers" is a game with mixed results. While Zendaya's performance and the intriguing premise keep you engaged, the weak ending prevents it from being a complete victory.
