Review: Every Thought We Had Watching ‘Challengers’

The image above is a photograph taken by Niko Tavernise, who is affiliated with MGM Pictures.

Caution: The content of this blog post contains spoilers for the film Challengers.

Zendaya and her Caucasian male friends are definitely getting cozy, but are they simply smooching under a tree or is there more to their relationship?

When the trailer for a new tennis drama titled Challengers dropped, directed by Luca Guadagnino, MGM teased thrilling backhands, stylish courtside fashion, and an intriguing love triangle involving Zendaya and two competitive suitors vying for her affection. Zendaya plays Tashi Duncan, a promising young tennis player whose career is tragically cut short by an injury. She shifts her focus to coaching, using her passion for victory to motivate her struggling husband (Mike Faist). Things become tense when her husband is pitted against his former best friend (Josh O'Connor), who also happens to be Tashi's ex-boyfriend. The ensuing movie promises to be enthralling with its fashionable MMF dynamic and thrilling displays of athleticism both on and off the tennis court. Get ready to be captivated and on the edge of your seat!

Today marks the premiere of the new movie, Challengers, and some of the Cut team members were fortunate to have watched a sneak peek beforehand. They have come together to discuss their opinions on the film. Is it truly remarkable? Which character has stolen our hearts? And are we eager to purchase merchandise from the movie at Dick's Sporting Goods?

Brooke Marine, the editor in charge of culture, has previously shared with her friends and colleagues that she watched this movie a few months back. Since then, Brooke has been eagerly waiting to have a discussion about it. The burning question on her mind is – who do you prefer, Art or Patrick?

I must confess something. The character named Art in this film is not appealing to me. I couldn't quite figure out who he reminded me of until I came across a meme.

Brooke M. expressed that she generally does not find blonds attractive, but makes an exception for Paul Newman. She is completely taken with Josh O'Connor, which is partly due to his performance in La Chimera. Brooke finds Art to be dull since he appears to not be entirely comfortable with his sexuality. In contrast, Patrick was confident enough to inform Tashi that they had masturbated together and he was fine with it.

Katja Vujić, the author, says that they are partners, so why not both?

Brooke LaMantia, the assistant editor, mentioned that one of the reasons why Art is attractive is that it's possible to control him to an extent, and he's visually appealing. However, she admitted that Zendaya stirred intense emotions within her.

Olivia Craighead, a journalist, stated that she would have made them lock lips just as the woman in question does. She believes that Art may be slightly intimidated by her.

Maridelis Morales Rosado, the person responsible for editing photos, has some lingering thoughts about a particular scene involving a sauna. She expressed how she would have loved to be part of that moment. Moreover, she also recalled a scene wherein Patrick was eating a banana and gave a wink to Art.

Katja: Can I have a small peck, please?

Brooke M. expressed her desire for the characters to do more than just kiss. However, she prefers to believe that they engage in a threesome later in life. She wonders if anyone else felt disappointed after watching the movie, but she did not.

Brooke L.: I felt let down when it ended.

Cat Zhang, a writer who focuses on cultural topics, expressed her belief that a deeper exploration of the class hierarchy was necessary to better comprehend Tashi's motivation to achieve success.

Danielle: That's a valid argument. The boys come from affluent backgrounds, whereas she appears to have been and still is the only breadwinner in her family. Exploring the connection between race, financial status, and their dynamic could have made for an interesting storyline.

Let's discuss the phrase "I'm taking excellent care of my little white boys" stated in the movie. This line was not required as the film has no political agenda, and race does not play a significant role in the plot. It seems like the only reason this was added was to provoke viewers into creating memes based on the trailer. And if that was the goal, well then, it seems to have been accomplished.

Katja stated that the sole instance this matter was brought up was when she claimed that Anna Mueller, an opposing tennis player who had defeated her in a previous game, was discriminatory. However, this was only briefly mentioned and not the main focus of the situation.

The importance of Tashi being a Black woman was emphasized by screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes.

Olivia stated that there were a few areas that the individuals involved should have explored more thoroughly. She felt that their daughter was not given enough attention and consideration.

Brooke M. speculated that adding the daughter to the storyline heightened the significance of Art and Tashi's relationship. However, it is not ideal to imply that having a child ruined her life indefinitely.

I sympathized with the fact that she seemed too young to be a mother, but I still cannot imagine Zendaya playing any character older than the age of 24.

Olivia tells them that being 31 means they are more likely to succeed with a gun in their mouth. This implies that they have a low chance of achieving what they want at their age.

Brooke M.: Wow, the queue was too long and it was insane. She displayed a very unkind behavior!

Tashi made a cutting remark to Patrick, exposing his hypocrisy of pretending to be from a lower economic background when he actually comes from a wealthy family. The comment hit Patrick hard.

Katja wonders if either of them is truly bisexual. She believes that Patrick certainly is.

Brooke L.: Absolutely, they are both fantastic.

Danielle: Hmm, I'm a bit curious about why Patrick seems more at ease with their flirting.

Cat expressed their disappointment with the movie, stating that they expected it to have more homosexual content. They did not necessarily want to see the characters engage in sexual intercourse, but they desired to see more sensual chemistry between them. Cat observed that Art was completely infatuated with Tashi, but he did not reciprocate the perceived romantic advances.

Olivia believes that the final scene between the characters was intended to be their intimate moment, and although she would have preferred to witness one, she acknowledges and accepts the filmmakers' choice. It is noteworthy that Luca Guadagnino, the director, holds no preference towards which character emerges victorious. The embrace occurs early on in the match where both players still have a chance to score more points.

Danielle: If my memory serves me correctly, the most recent point we witnessed was after a deuce, isn't that correct? Therefore, it seems as if one of the players may have a slight edge, but as of now, nobody has emerged as the winner.

Brooke M.: The true victory lies in the intimate vibe we felt throughout our journey.

Katja stated that Art's sweat, which was dripping down his nostril, was the true champion. She further mentioned that this movie alone put a stop to the anti-perspirant industry.

Brooke L.: The ultimate champion of tennis fashion are the shorts that are small in size.

Joanna Nikas, the editor responsible for fashion choices, stated that Cartier was the ultimate victor with their impressive Panthère watch and Trinity necklace.

Danielle has a unique opinion as she did not appreciate Tashi's fashion choices outside the basketball court.

Brooke M.: This flick fully comprehends the dynamic between sportsmen and sponsorship agreements. I also adored witnessing Zendaya showcase some dexterous acting skills by applying lotion on her injured knee while lying down in bed.

Katja expressed that applying Augustinus Bader to one's entire body was an exceptionally indulgent experience. It exemplifies true opulence.

Brooke M.: Do you think this was the mature part that Zendaya required? It's unbelievable but true that she hasn't headed a film before.

Katja stated that there is solid proof for the group of people who believe that Zendaya is not a good actor. Olivia then asked if she could express her opinion, and shared that she thinks the male actors are outshining Zendaya.

Danielle doesn't share the same opinion as you. She thinks Zendaya did a marvelous job portraying her character. Although she had difficulty identifying with Tashi's character, Danielle still enjoyed watching her performance as it was captivating.

Olivia: Hey, we haven't talked about the most amusing part of the film yet. That's the scene where Tashi hits the cigarette out of Patrick's mouth, and he tries to pick it back up. It had me in stitches.

Brooke M. stated that he is not capable of paying for something.

Brooke L.: He doesn't have the funds to squander or maybe he really desired that saliva!

Maridelis: Did you notice there were too many papers fluttering in the breeze during that scene?

Danielle: What's happening in New Rochelle that's causing them to distribute so many brochures?

Katja: If it weren't for the wind, Tashi and Pat wouldn't have had the chance to have sexual intercourse. Moreover, what is our opinion about their sexual activity in the car? Considering they are both of a towering height.

Danielle expresses that it is unfortunate that Tashi may have had a luxurious sports utility vehicle that they could have adapted for better sexual experiences. However, due to their immaturity, they may have found enjoyment in the situation. It appears that their sexual desires outweigh their maturity level, resembling teenagers trapped in adult bodies.

Olivia: It was awesome when the perspective was changed to "POV: You're a tennis ball."

Maridelis is feeling disappointed about the upcoming U.S. Open broadcast on TV.

Danielle: Let's advocate for tennis players to start using a glass court moving forward!

Olivia: Currently, I'm tuned in to the music and feeling pumped up once more.