This week's television film highlights include a sports comedy about a failed tennis prodigy, a scandalous period drama, and a classic dinosaur adventure.
The Dink
Josh Greenbaum's amiable comedy follows Dusty "the Hammer" Boyd, a tennis prodigy who failed to make the grade and now coaches nine-year-olds at his father's country club. Jake Johnson plays Dusty, while Ed Harris portrays his dismissive father Chuck, who fights against pickleball's growing popularity, calling it "the coronavirus of sport." When Dusty meets Candace, played by Mary Steenburgen, his priorities shift. Available Friday 24 July on Apple TV.
Wicked Little Letters
Set in the 1920s, Thea Sharrock's comedy features Olivia Colman as Edith, a prim coastal town resident who receives anonymous poison pen letters. Suspicions fall on her neighbor Rose, played by Jessie Buckley, an Irish single mother with a proto-feminist attitude. The film is a cautionary tale about bullying and repression, with Colman and Buckley delivering hilarious insults. Airs Saturday 18 July at 9pm on Channel 4.
Jurassic Park
Steven Spielberg's classic follows palaeontologist Dr. Alan Grant, played by Sam Neill, invited to an island where dinosaurs have been revived through DNA. The film balances wonder and jeopardy, making it a supreme crowd-pleaser. Airs Saturday 18 July at 10.50pm on ITV1.
The Pillow Book
Peter Greenaway's 1996 drama stars Vivian Wu as Nagiko, a model who gets sexual gratification from calligraphers writing on her body. She begins a torrid affair with British translator Jerome, played by Ewan McGregor, and seeks revenge on a publisher. Airs Tuesday 21 July at 1.10am on Film4.
The Second Act
Quentin Dupieux's surreal provocation features performers including Léa Seydoux and Vincent Lindon playing scenes for an AI director that fall apart as they go off-script. The meta comedy keeps viewers guessing which film-within-a-film they are watching. Airs Wednesday 22 July at 12.45am on Film4.
Preschool
Josh Duhamel's caper stars Michael Socha and Duhamel as competitive dads vying for a place at an exclusive private preschool. They engage in indoor skydiving, judo, and padel violence, while Antonia Thomas and Charity Wakefield play their sensible partners. Airs Friday 24 July on Paramount+.
Janet Planet
Pulitzer-winning playwright Annie Baker's languid drama follows 11-year-old Lacy, played by Zoe Ziegler, whose world revolves around her acupuncturist mother Janet, played by Julianne Nicholson. The film offers a child's-eye view of adult relationships, including Janet's troubles with boyfriend Wayne, played by Will Patton, and a visit from Sophie Okonedo's Regina. Airs Friday 24 July at 11.05pm on BBC Two.
