The Dink: An uneven rally

The Dink (2026) • View trailerThree stars (out of five); rated PG-13, for occasional profanity and plenty of sexual vulgarityAvailable via: Apple TV+By Derrick Bang • Published in The Davis Enterprise, 8.2.26File this one under “Silly, but fun.” I’ve been waiting for filmmakers to embrace the rapidly expanding explosion of pickleball, and director Josh Greenbaum and scripter Sean Clements have treated this new sport pastime with a blend of humor and good-natured ribbing. Much to his surprise, washed-up tennis pro Dusty (Jake Johnson) begins to enjoypickleball, thanks in great part to the kindness and encouragement of Candace(Mary Steenburgen), his regular partner.While, sadly, making a few fouls along the way. (About which, more in a moment.)From the moment he could hold a tennis racket — age 3 — Dusty Boyd was groomed and trained by his father, Chuck (Ed Harris), to become a skilled, forceful and unrelenting tennis pro. By age 17 (now played by Nathan Blair), laden with a roomful of…