Zendaya Shines in Challengers
You’d have to have been hiding under a rock for the past several years to not have an inkling who Zendaya is – but Challengers is the film that finally serves up her star quality to an audience in the most undeniable way.
The Plot
The latest film from Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, Challengers examines the tightly interwoven relationship between three young tennis stars across more than a decade. Ably supported by The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and West Side Story Bafta nominee Mike Faist, Zendaya’s mastery of her craft has never been more confident.
Zendaya’s Performance
A former Disney Channel child star and singer, the 27-year-old has been making waves in Hollywood for a while thanks to her roles in The Greatest Showman, the Spider-Man franchise, and the Dune film series. She’s even scored a double Emmy win for her turn as recovering teen addict Rue Bennett in the headline-grabbing TV series Euphoria.
The Tennis Drama Unfolds
As Tashi Duncan, a hotshot in the sport destined for the biggest titles before she’s forced to retire after a career-ending injury, Zendaya gives us a nuanced, adult performance. We watch her coach her less naturally talented husband Art (Faist) in the near present day, while jumping back 13 years to discover the start of her acquaintance with him and his close friend and doubles partner, Patrick.
The Intensity of the Film
Of course Guadagnino has managed to infuse the film’s dialogue and sizzling chemistry with the intensity and rhythm of a game of tennis, as well as keeping the literal volleys, serves, and backhands themselves engaging with energetic camerawork, accompanied by a pulse-poundingly stirring soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
The Love Triangle
Zendaya excels at portraying the complicated temptation that lies between all three of them, gingerly dipping her toe into the boys’ friendship when they both first meet her. The true love story really lies between Faist’s Art and O’Connor’s Patrick who, while they each boast sizzling chemistry with Zendaya, share a genuine rapport with one another onscreen that has an undercurrent of intriguing tension.
Final Thoughts
Challengers is out in UK cinemas today. Let’s roll out the red carpet to welcome the arrival of Zendaya’s star.