Is Challengers Gay Enough?
The Cut staff volleys back and forth on Zendaya’s sexy new tennis drama.
Warning: Spoilers for the movie Challengers below.
Zendaya and her white boys, sitting in a tree: K-I-S-S-I-N-G. But is that all they’re up to?
When MGM dropped the trailer for Challengers, the new tennis drama directed by Luca Guadagnino, it teased virtuosic backhands, sleek courtside attire, and triangular sexual chemistry between Zendaya and two competitive suitors who chase after her like ball boys. The Euphoria actress stars as Tashi Duncan, a tennis prodigy whose career is cut short by a tragic injury. She becomes a coach, channeling her drive to win into her flagging husband (Mike Faist). Tension arises when he’s matched against his former best friend (Josh O’Connor), who also happens to be Tashi’s ex. This sets off a movie that’s sure to leave you blushing and screaming with its voguish MMF dynamic and gripping feats of athleticism both on and and off the court.
For the movie’s release today, several Cut staffers who were lucky enough to see Challengers in advance have convened to share thoughts. Just how hot is the movie? Who’s the winner — onscreen and in our hearts? And how fast are we sprinting to the Wilson section of Dick’s Sporting Goods?
Brooke Marine, deputy culture editor: As I have mentioned to my friends and several colleagues here, which I’m sure they just love to keep hearing, I first saw this movie a few months ago, so I’ve been waiting on the edge of my seat to discuss. First, who would you rather: Art or Patrick?
Danielle Cohen, staff writer: I have to admit something. I don’t find Art attractive at all in this movie. I couldn’t place who he sounded like until I saw this meme.
Brooke M.: I’m not into blonds — except for Paul Newman. I am fully Josh O’Connor–pilled. (Part of that is because of La Chimera.) Art is also boring because he is less comfortable in his sexuality. At least Patrick was comfortable enough to tell Tashi, “Well, yes we jerked off next to each other one time and that’s fine!”
Katja Vujić, writer: They’re partners … por qué no los dos.
Brooke LaMantia, editorial assistant: The thing about Art that’s appealing is that you can boss him around a bit, and he’s not bad to look at. But I’m gonna say this had me hot and heavy for Zendaya.
Olivia Craighead, news writer: I would make them kiss like she does. I think Art is a little scared of her.
Maridelis Morales Rosado, photo editor: Still thinking about the sauna scene … wish I was there. Also when Patrick is eating the banana and winks at Art …
Katja: A little kiss, please!
Brooke M.: I wish they did more than kiss, but I choose to believe they all have a late-in-life threesome. Did anyone feel disappointed after the movie? I sure didn’t …
Brooke L.: I was disappointed it was over.
Cat Zhang, culture writer: I thought they needed to explore the class dynamic more so we can understand Tashi’s drive to succeed.
Danielle: That’s a good point. They’re rich boys while she seems like she was and still is her family’s sole income. It would have been compelling to get into race and money and how they’re both at work in this trio.
Brooke M.: Can we talk about “I’m taking such good care of my little white boys?” because that was an unnecessary line. This movie is apolitical. Race is not really a part of the equation in it so why did she say that unless it was to bait the Internet into making memes out of the trailer, in which case, success I guess …
Katja: Yeah, the only other time it’s mentioned is when she calls Anna Mueller, another tennis player who had beat her in a match before, racist. It’s sooo far in the background.
Cat: Especially because the screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes said it was important for Tashi to be a Black woman.
Olivia: There were a couple things that they could have gone deeper on! Their daughter really felt like an afterthought to me.
Brooke M.: I guess the daughter was there to give Art and Tashi’s relationship higher stakes, but damn, not great to be like, “Then she had a KID and her life sucked FOREVER.”
Danielle: I felt bad for finding her too young to be a mother, but it is still hard to buy Zendaya as anything older than 24.
Olivia: She says, “You’re 31, you have a better chance with a handgun in your mouth.” So they’re 31.
Brooke M.: Omg that line was crazy. She was so mean!
Cat: Tashi really got Patrick’s ass with the comment about him pretending to be a down-on-his-luck player when he comes from so much privilege.
Katja: Do we think either of them are actually bi? I think Patrick definitely is.
Brooke L.: Yesss, they both are.
Danielle: Yeah, I would have also been kinda interested in why Patrick is so much more comfortable with their flirtation.
Cat: I didn’t think the movie was gay enough! I didn’t need them to fuck, but I wished there was more erotic tension between them — Art is so wholly fixated on Tashi that he doesn’t play along.
Olivia: I think their last match is supposed to be their sex scene, and while I would have liked to have seen a real one … I respect the decision. Something that’s interesting is that Luca Guadagnino actually does not care who wins at the end. That hug happens at the beginning of the tiebreaker match. There are more points to be played!
Danielle: If I’m remembering correctly the last point we see is after a deuce, right? So if anything one of them has an advantage, but no one has won.
Brooke M.: The real winning is the sexual tension we experienced along the way.
Katja: The real winner was the sweat dripping down Art’s nostril. This movie single-handedly ended the anti-perspirant industry.
Brooke L.: Tiny tennis shorts is the real winner.
Joanna Nikas, deputy style editor: No, the real winner was Cartier, with the Panthère watch and Trinity necklace.
Danielle: I have a hot take … I didn’t like Tashi’s off-the-court style!
Brooke M.: This movie totally understands the relationship between athletes and brand sponsorships. I also loved seeing Zendaya do a little LOTION acting, when she’s in the bed rubbing up her busted knee.
Katja: That was honestly the richest moment. Putting Augustinus Bader all over your limbs?! True wealth.
Brooke M.: Do we think this was the Grown Up Role Zendaya needed? She really has never led a movie before, which is crazy to think about but true.
Katja: Yes. But definitely some hard evidence for the “Zendaya can’t act” crowd.
Olivia: Guys, can I be really controversial? I think the boys are acting Zendaya off the screen.
Danielle: I disagree with you, I thought Zendaya was incredible. I had trouble really understanding who Tashi was, but for some reason I still found her performance impossible to look away from.
Olivia: Wait, we haven’t discussed the funniest part of the movie, which is when Patrick goes to pick up the cigarette that Tashi slaps out of his mouth. I was LOL-ing.
Brooke M.: He can’t afford …
Brooke L.: He doesn’t have the money to waste it. Or he wanted that spit!
Maridelis: Also there were too many papers flapping in the wind in that scene?
Danielle: Yeah what is going on in New Rochelle that they have so many pamphlets?
Katja: Without the wind, Tashi and Pat wouldn’t have had the opportunity to fuck. Also do we think the car sex was good? They are both very tall.
Danielle: What sucks is Tashi probably had a fancy SUV they could’ve configured for optimal sex. But since they’re both kinda stuck at the mental age of teenagers, maybe it was fun for them. They’re all horny 18-year-olds stuck in adult bodies.
Olivia: I loved when it was “POV: You’re a tennis ball.”
Maridelis: U.S. Open on TV is gonna be sooo disappointing this year.
Danielle: Campaign for tennis players to play on a glass court from now on!
Olivia: I’m listening to the score right now and getting hyped up all over again.
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