Ben Stiller’s Pickleball Comedy Movie The Dink Adds Patton Oswalt & Chris Parnell

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As a seasoned moviegoer who’s seen more films than I can count on one hand and lost track of long ago, I must say that the news about Ben Stiller returning to the sports comedy arena with “The Dink” has me all fired up! The blend of Pickleball, tennis, squash, and table tennis in a single movie? Sign me up!

Instead of “Dodgeball 2,” we’re back in the realm of sports comedies, and this time, it’s brimming with popular actors you’ll love. The upcoming movie, titled “The Dink,” will be the first to showcase Pickleball (a mix of tennis, squash, and table tennis) on the silver screen. Directed by Josh Greenbaum, who is also working on “Spaceballs 2,” the script for this comedy was penned by Sean Clements.

By the set deadline, Stiller will be teaming up with several well-known actors, comedians, and a genuine sports icon on the court. Patton Oswalt (from Ratatouille), Chris Parnell (Rick & Morty), Martin Kove (Cobra Kai), Christine Taylor (Dodgeball), Chloe Fineman (Saturday Night Live), and Aaron Chen (Fisk) have all signed up for the cast of The Dink. Moreover, John McEnroe, the man who made tennis captivating to countless spectators, will also be joining them on the court.

Besides Stiller, the film titled “The Dink” boasts an impressive ensemble cast. Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Roddick, and Ed Harris are all set to deliver top-notch performances on the Pickleball court. Stiller is confirmed for a supporting role in this movie, but it remains unknown if he will play a hero or, as often seen in his comedies, an obnoxious villain like White Goodman (Dodgeball) or Hal L. (Happy Gilmore)). At the moment, the release date for “The Dink” is still undisclosed, with the official synopsis being:

A once successful, but now struggling, tennis player embarks on learning pickleball as a means to win over his father’s admiration, doing so with initial hesitation.

Will Dodgeball 2 Ever Happen?

If you’re able to bypass a difficult period of development lasting nearly a decade, then you can handle a simple game like dodgeball. The movie “Dodgeball,” featuring Vince Vaughn and Stiller, is one of the standout classics in the absurd sports comedy genre. Alongside films such as “Happy Gilmore,” “Caddyshack,” “Hot Rod,” “Blades of Glory,” and others, “Dodgeball” has a dedicated cult-like fanbase. Despite its outrageous storyline, it motivated countless people to pick up the game named in the title.

Enthusiasts have longed for another Average Joe’s Gym tournament, but unfortunately, the stars haven’t aligned properly for the production. For years, whispers about a possible Dodgeball sequel have circulated, with many of those rumors proving to be unfounded. However, last year, it was officially confirmed that Dodgeball 2 is in the works. The announcement indicated that Vince Vaughn is keen on reprising his role as Peter La Fleur. Unfortunately, since then, no further updates about the project have been shared.

It seems that while Vaughn might be open to reprising his role, Stiller appears reluctant to don the feathered and dangerous hairdo of White Goodman. This news was shared by his co-star, Justin Long, who played the character Justin, a male cheerleader harboring feelings for one of his teammates. According to Long, Stiller is concerned that a less-than-stellar sequel could tarnish the reputation of the original, possibly stemming from Stiller’s experience with the critically panned Zoolander 2, where he reprised his role as Derek Zoolander. Long quoted Stiller as saying this.

I’m eager for it to occur, and I’m optimistic that it will, but I suspect Ben might be hesitant about making a sequel due to the deep affection fans have for the original work.

The Dink
has no official release date yet.

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2024-11-06 04:32