"Zendaya Shines in 'Challengers': A Tennis Court Dramedy of Love and Rivalry"

"Challengers" is a time-shifting drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, featuring Zendaya as Tashi, a former tennis pro turned manager, and a love triangle involving her husband Art and Patrick, a scruffy hustler. The film's extravagant and hilarious storytelling, along with its relentless athletic competition scenes, make it a lively cinematic experience. However, it becomes overly ambitious in its narrative and technical ambitions towards the end, and the 1970s American New Wave ending feels unearned. Despite this, the movie's visceral and intuitive pleasures, along with the stellar performances of Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, make it a treat to watch, capturing the power dynamics and secrets within the characters' lives both on and off the tennis court.