Love, set, match: Zendaya serves it up in Guadagnino's erotic tennis drama 'Challengers'

Some would say the era of movie stars is over. The criteria for a movie star are much different than the criteria for a good actor. Not only do you have to be able to act, but you also have to be charming, engaging and have star power. Your off-screen life has to be just as interesting as your on-screen performances.

The late '90s and early aughts were the last peak for movie stars. Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts — all stars who could get audiences to the theater simply because they were in the movie, and also get people to do a double take at the cover of tabloid magazines at the grocery store checkout line.

Zendaya is a true star

Maybe it’s because with social media we have so much more access to celebrities, or it’s because the monoculture is not as powerful as it was. But someone who is effortlessly entrancing, as beautiful as they are talented and hypnotizingly glamorous is significantly harder to come by.

Zendaya is here to change things.

In director Luca Guadagnino's new film “Challengers,” Zendaya cements her stardom, moving away from child actress and Spider-Man's plus one. Along for the ride and leveling up in their own right are Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. “Challengers” is an electrifying romantic sports drama with star-making performances.

What happens in 'Challengers'

In order to get his confidence back, falling tennis superstar Art Donaldson (Faist) is entered into a Challenge Tour match against small-time players by his wife, coach and former tennis prodigy Tashi (Zendaya).

Her plan is turned on its head when Art makes it to the final round only to face off against Art’s former best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend: the cocky Patrick Zweig (O’Connor).

Flashing back 12 years, Art and Patrick are a dominating young doubles tennis team. Having grown up together in boarding school, the boys are thick as thieves. At this tournament, they watch wunderkind Tashi Duncan. While others are focused on the ball, the two boys are focused on Tashi. Later, the three meet up and do what kids about to go to college do: hang out in a hotel room, share a beer and kiss. The next day, Art and Patrick are expected to play each other, but Tashi presents a new prize. Whoever wins the match, wins her number.

Tashi and Art end up at Stanford University together playing college tennis, while Patrick goes pro right out of high school. While in town visiting his girlfriend and his best friend, Patrick gets into a fight with both of them and doesn’t show up to Tashi’s big match. It’s here that in a chase for a ball, she missteps and injures her knee. Art rushes to her side as it sinks in that this is the end for Tashi Duncan, tennis sensation.

Flashing between the Challenger tournament in real time and critical times in their history together, the threesome works out professional and sexual tensions on and off the court.

'Challengers' is the rare sexy modern-day drama

“Challengers” is a rare modern-day sexy adult drama. Today, films are often played to reach the broadest possible audience, and in doing so turn down the eroticism, or are cornered into becoming a genre film, like a war movie or a science-fiction movie.

Seldom these days is a movie just about adults in adult circumstances. Guadagnino, the Italian director who became more well-known to American audiences with his 2017 hit “Call Me by Your Name,” has always specialized in the intimate connection between people.

Combining his eye for expressive filmmaking, a mature performance from the three main stars and a droning pop score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “Challengers” is a seductive feast for the senses.

'Call Me by Your Name' review: An impossibly beautiful film

'Challengers' 4 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cast: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O'Connor

Rating: R for language throughout, some sexual content and graphic nudity

How to Watch: In theaters Friday, April 26

Reach the reporter at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @amandaluberto.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Challengers' review: Zendaya's star turn in Luca Guadagnino's film