Challengers (2024) TRAILER REVIEW: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’Connor
The trailer begins with Tashi (Zendaya) listening in from a hotel door.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
She knocked, but no answer. But then, she hears SCRAMBLING, like rats running around the shed.
“Wait,” she heard a male voice.
The door opens. You see Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), both with disheveled hair. Patrick had an unbuttoned shirt. Are they a gay couple?
It cuts to a fancy party in a tennis court. Men wore suits and women wore dresses. Tashi wore a blue dress. She held the Girls’ Junior Singles Final Cup from the US Open.
But before we continue…..
What is Challengers?
Challengers is the 2nd tier in the world tennis championships. There are 3 tiers. Everyone starts on the 3rd tier. They climb all the way up to the top tier with the Men’s ATP Tour (Includes Masters 1000, 500, 250 events) and the Women’s WTA Tour (Includes WTA 1000, 500, 250 events)
So Tashi’s Girls’ Junior Singles Final Cup is the highest-level event for amateurs 18 and below. She’s at the very beginning for her career.
“Tashi Duncan,” Patrick told Art, “she’s gonna turn her whole family into millionaires.”
It cuts to Tashi in an Adidas poster. It cuts to her in a game smashing the ball filled with energy, power, and zest.
“To have a fashion line, a foundation,” Patrick continued.
It cuts to Tashi again in a game. Patrick and Art watched intently from the audience.
It cuts back to Tashi’s party. I think it’s her family or Adidas celebrating her Juniors Cup.
“You were incredible today,” Art told Tashi.
“Thank you!” Tashi acknowledged.
“It wasn’t even like tennis, it was an entire different game,” Art told her.
It cuts back to the game. Tashi slid to her right and SMASHED the ball to the. Full of energy and aggression, she shouted…,
“COME ON!”
It cuts to Art and Patrick hanging out by the beach. Tashi stood in front of them.
“Hey, come hang out with us later,” Art told her.
“Want me to come tuck you in?” Tashi smirked.
“No, we just keep talking,” Patrick said.
Art smirked and looke at Patrick. Patrick smirked at Tashi. Very smooth, guys. Is that how you invite for a threesome?
It cuts to Tashi watching a game. I think it’s Art and Patrick’s game. They looked at each other. Patrick ate a banana and smiled at Art as he chews.
It cuts back to inside their hotel room. “How does this happen?” Tashi asked. “Going after the same girl?” she asked Art and Patrick.
“Not as often as you think?” Patrick said.
“Usually, we have different types,” Art said.
Tashi smiled, “Are you saying I should be….flattered?”
“Aren’t you everybody’s type?” Art cheekily asked.
Tashi smiled and shifted between looking at Patrick and Art. She sat at their bed. “Come here,” Tashi commanded.
Art and Patrick both sat at the floor. “Which one of us?” Art asked.
Patrick stood up quickly and sat beside Tashi. They then sat on each side of Tashi. Tashi began by kissing Art on the lips. She then kissed Patrick on the lips. The two guys then kissed Tashi on the neck. Tashi then lied down on bed and smiled.
It cuts to Tashi in a game. She smashed the ball.
It cuts to Art catching a tennis ball.
It cuts to Patrick and Tashi smiling at each other beside the sea.
“She’s not in love with you,” Art told Patrick.
It cuts to Tashi confronting Art. It looks like a college lunch hall. Are they all from the same school? “What makes you think I want someone to be in love with me?” Tashi asked Art.
It cuts to Art and Tashi in a tennis court smiling and waving at each other. WOW! This is a fun love triangle.
It cuts to Patrick confronting Art in a coffee shop. “It’s nice to see you lit up about something, even if it’s my girlfriend,” Patrick told Art.
It cuts to Tashi in a game. She slid to the right.
However…..
CRACK!
Holy F***. Her leg VISIBLY BROKE. Art stood up looking concerned.
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It cuts to them at the locker room. Tashi’s right leg is now in a cast. She had both arms on her eyes in desperation.
Years Have Passed
It cuts to Tashi walking at the back of an arena.
It cuts to a news show on TV. The female newscaster said, “Art’s got his coach, Tashi Donaldson, who also is his wife.”
So years passed. Art is now in the proper Challengers league. While lying down on their bed. “I’m playing for both of us, Tashi,” Art told his wife.
It cuts to Tashi walking in a park still with a knee brace.
It cuts to Patrick with a smile approaching his college friend. Their now competitors.
It cuts to Art and Patrick in a sauna. “I think, maybe,” Patrick said, “you’re disturbed by the fact that she could have been into someone like me.”
“When we were teenagers?” Art asked.
“When we were teenagers,” a smiling Patrick responded.
That Patrick smile is nefarious. Is he talking about old teenage drama OR does Patrick sense tension and boredom from the Tashi and Art marriage?
It cuts to Tashi kissing Art, and then kissing Patrick, at a coffee shop back when they were teenagers.
It cuts to Tashi and Art in their house. Tashi looked pissed as she walked away.
“Hey!” Art said. “I love you.”
You get 4 quick cuts:
Tashi and Art making out in bed.
Art in a tennis court.
Patrick in a tennis court.
Tashi’s focused eyes.
The screen turned black.
When it comes back, it’s back at Tashi and Art’s house.
(“Hey!” Art said. “I love you.”)
“I know,” Tashi said, and then she walked away.
It cuts to Tashi walking on the streets.
It cuts to Patrick in a match.
It cuts to Art working out in a gym.
You hear Tashi’s voice, “You don’t know what tennis is…”
It cuts to a tennis ball rising from Art’s serve in a game.
It cuts to light traffic on a late afternoon. You see a LARGE advertisement building wrap of Tashi and Art promoting a car — the word GAME CHANGERS on top of their heads and the car.
“…it’s a relationship. We went somewhere really beautiful together.”
It cuts to a tennis match. Patrick pumped his fist in celebration,
“Let’s GOOOOOOO!”
It cuts to Tashi talking to Patrick at night, “I’m taking such good care of my little white boys.”
So what does Tashi ultimately want? Does she want a 3-way relationship? A throuple? An Ethical Non-Monogamy? A polyamory? A Vee? A Polyandry?
It cuts to Art and Patrick hugging in celebration.
It cuts to Tashi slapping Patrick.
It cuts to Tashi and Art at a hotel. “I assume you planned this?” Patrick asked.
“Not this part,” Tashi responded.
It cuts to Tashi caressing the cheeks of Art.
The trailer ends with Tashi putting sunglasses on as she watches a tennis match — we assume it’s a match beween Art and Patrick.
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