Rated R

The answer – at least how it’s presented her – is a resounding NO… Unless you want to be visibly drenched in flop sweat from the actors on a 30-foot tall screen.

The story examines the relationship between three tennis phenoms over the course of thirteen years and their passion for each other and the game itself.

Alas, the characters are all shallow, despicable, and thoroughly unlikeable. But even worse, the film is plain boring. It doesn’t matter how much pulsing pop music you blast on the court.

The film’s success depends on how much of an actual movie star leading lady Zendaya is. It’s so desperate for this that the advertising implies some pretty intense moments.

Sorry guys. None of it actually pays off. We’re left with a feature-length version of a jewelry ad with attractive but utterly vapid people wandering in confusion.

Die hard tennis fans may like this, but it’s a double fault for me.

CHALLENGERS gets 1 1/2 tennis balls out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it.

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