Let’s talk about Zendaya’s Challengers, or rather director Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, which stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor and opens in theaters this Friday. I’ve seen it, as well as several colleagues, and while everyone agrees that they were very much looking forward to Zendaya’s “tennis love triangle movie,” half of those I polled hated it while others loved it. One thing is for sure: You’ll have strong opinions.
Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach who is married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist of West Side Story fame). However, Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he faces off against the washed-up Patrick (Emmy winner Josh O’Connor of The Crown), who is his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. It’s messy and wild, and whatever camp you fall in (loved it or hated it), you’ll be saying, “Wait, what?!” numerous times along the way.
The soundtrack will make you feel like you’re in a techno club (up to you whether that’s a good thing), and the script feels like an intense tennis match, going back-and-forth in different time periods to establish each character’s past. It’s also over two hours, which will pass super fast for some and feel ridiculously slow for others. All of this is to say, I’ll be very curious to hear what you all think. One thing I know for sure: There’s no denying that Zendaya has once again won the fashion game on the court red carpet.
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In other news, Earth Day 2024 is here, and National Geographic and Disney+ will have plenty of new programming, including Secrets of the Octopus and Tiger. Netflix has an entire hub dedicated to Earth Month programming, while Apple TV+ lists their shows here and Discovery+ has theirs here.
ABC is also devoting plenty of necessary programming to Earth Week, spearheaded by chief meteorologist Ginger Zee. Good Morning America will take a look at life in an Earthship—homes made entirely of recyclable materials—and how viewers can adapt sustainable living practices in their own homes. GMA will also provide easy ways to make grocery shopping more sustainable, and help with tips for reducing plastic consumption and minimizing food waste.
