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‘Centuria’ Is a Dark Fantasy Manga More People Should Be Obsessed With

‘Centuria’ Is a Dark Fantasy Manga More People Should Be Obsessed With

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If one were to look at what’s hot on Manga Plus, a manga-reading app filled with banner titles like One Piece, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, they might be led to believe that this trio is the reason the app is worth downloading in a sea of reading apps that are more of a monetization hassle than they’re worth. However, the real manga that make the app essential aren’t these tenured shonen, but newer blood series. Alongside MAD, another manga series that more people should be obsessed with is the dark fantasy Centuria.

Reductively, Centuria, created by Tohru Kuramori, feels like a chimera of Makoto Yukimura‘s pacifist warrior odyssey, Vinland Saga, by way of Kentaro Miura‘s brutal and melancholic masterpiece, Berserk. On its own merits, however, reading the manga as it has evolved from week to week since its debut in 2024 has been nothing short of witnessing a literary powderkeg poised to push dark fantasy into a new echelon after an era dominated by works that felt more derivative of Berserk than genuinely self‑defined.

Centuria follows Julian, a boy with a truly messed-up past who finds himself as a stowaway on a ship filled with slaves awaiting their freedom. There, he befriends his fellow slaves, most of all Mira, a pregnant woman who rekindles his faith not only in humanity but also in his right to live a happy life. That is, until the shoe you’re waiting to fall, having read the previous sentences, hits him like a Mack truck. His fellow slaves are massacred by the ship captain, and to make matters worse, an eldritch emerges from the sea. During all the chaos, said eldritch being makes a bargain with Julian, granting him supernatural abilities by gifting him the combined strength of his slaughtered friends as well as their combined lives. In essence, Julian becomes a quasi-immortal being: with every death he suffers, he is resurrected, and his tally of 100 lives dwindles. Julian, in turn, indebted to his allies, uses his newfound strength to protect Mira’s newborn daughter and his adoptive sister, Diana, from forces both human and otherworldly that want her for their own ends as a mysterious “child of prophecy.”

Watching Centuria expand its world‑building week to week is a treat in itself, branching outward like a precarious spiderweb crack across a windshield. Despite its moderately brisk pace, nothing feels out of left field; each chapter lands on either a wholesome cliffhanger, an emotionally devastating beat, a giant bombshell, or a clever subversion of where you assumed the story was telegraphing itself to go. Rather than regaling readers with the well‑trodden lone‑wolf‑and‑cub dynamic between Julian and Diana, Centuria pointedly refuses to make its hero a lonely, solemn scowler. Instead, it surrounds him with new allies who quickly form a found family—a village determined to rear the child of prophecy the right way and fight tooth and nail to keep her safe.

And it certainly doesn’t hurt that the series is awash in some of the most detailed background art in the medium. Kuramori’s aesthetic feels pulled straight from the medieval tapestry of knights in the Bayeux Tapestry, with textures practically lifting off the page as if chiseled from stone. Its double‑page color spreads, meanwhile, evoke the haunting grandeur of Dark Souls and Elden Ring‑tier vistas that, even when rendered in black ink on a white page like any other manga, never fail to be equal parts awe‑striking and terrifying.

Another fun wrinkle in Centuria‘s intrigue beyond the literal story itself is that the series is part of a pretty cracked lineage of former assistants to Chainsaw Man creator Tatsuki Fujimoto. Granted, it’s pretty standard that the trajectory of becoming a mangaka means you likely served as an assistant under a bigger mangaka. But for whatever reason, those in Fujimoto’s orbit tend to have all branched out to make pretty unique series all their own that all feel like a counter-cultural influence of Fujimoto. To give pomp and circumstance to the Midas touch Fujimoto’s assistants have had since becoming their own mangaka, here’s a quick rundown of who they are and what they’ve made:

Likewise, Kuramori is a former assistant to both Fujimoto and Tatsu, having worked with the former on his one-shot manga, Goodbye Eri, and with the latter on a couple of chapters of Dandadan, and it shows. Centuria is teeming with impressive character designs, clever power sets, and even a cast of villains that are endearing and worth reading for, with arcs to rival those of its heroes.

Another hallmark of Fujimoto’s influence that’s unmistakable in Centuria is his penchant for drawing “cute girls,” which is as alive in Kuramori as in his other assistants, arguably more so. At the very least, it’s something that’s impressed Tatsu enough to draw fan art of his assistant’s massive female knight while imploring him not to follow in Fujimoto’s footsteps by killing her off.

Over the two years of its serialization, Centuria‘s momentum as a must-read manga series has shown no signs of slowing. It’s even earned it a shortlist recommendation from Manga Plus editor-in-chief, Shuhei Hosono.

“It has both a complex story and special-power battles, and I have no doubt it’s going to become a masterpiece, so I hope more people give it a read,” Hosono said in the YouTube video linked above.

With the luck Fujimoto’s assistants have had getting the whole series picked up and turned into a banner anime of their own, hopefully, it’ll only be a matter of time until an anime studio announces they’re adapting it. So now’s as good a time as any to give it a read and see what all the hubbub is about.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.



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Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team.

Volkswagen Thinks Your E-Bike Needs a Pair of Smart Glasses Volkswagen is bringing some high-tech car features to a new line of electric bikes, including an optional pair of smart glasses. The German automaker recently unveiled two premium Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team. © Volkswagen The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals. These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives. The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road. © Volkswagen The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn. Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear. The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts. And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision. © Volkswagen “[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release. The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray. Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models The Sport model starts at ,999, while the Crossover starts at ,349. The optional smart helmet costs 9, and the smart glasses will set customers back another 9. #Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals.

These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives.

The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road.

Smart View Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn.

Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear.

The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts.

And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision.

Volkswagen Smart Glasses
© Volkswagen

“[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release.

The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray.

Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models

The Sport model starts at $3,999, while the Crossover starts at $4,349. The optional smart helmet costs $399, and the smart glasses will set customers back another $499.

#Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen">Volkswagen Thinks Your E-Bike Needs a Pair of Smart Glasses Volkswagen is bringing some high-tech car features to a new line of electric bikes, including an optional pair of smart glasses. The German automaker recently unveiled two premium Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team. © Volkswagen The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals. These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives. The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road. © Volkswagen The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn. Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear. The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts. And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision. © Volkswagen “[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release. The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray. Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models The Sport model starts at ,999, while the Crossover starts at ,349. The optional smart helmet costs 9, and the smart glasses will set customers back another 9. #Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen

developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team.

Volkswagen Thinks Your E-Bike Needs a Pair of Smart Glasses Volkswagen is bringing some high-tech car features to a new line of electric bikes, including an optional pair of smart glasses. The German automaker recently unveiled two premium Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team. © Volkswagen The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals. These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives. The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road. © Volkswagen The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn. Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear. The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts. And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision. © Volkswagen “[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release. The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray. Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models The Sport model starts at ,999, while the Crossover starts at ,349. The optional smart helmet costs 9, and the smart glasses will set customers back another 9. #Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals.

These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives.

The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road.

Smart View Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn.

Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear.

The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts.

And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision.

Volkswagen Smart Glasses
© Volkswagen

“[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release.

The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray.

Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models

The Sport model starts at $3,999, while the Crossover starts at $4,349. The optional smart helmet costs $399, and the smart glasses will set customers back another $499.

#Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen">Volkswagen Thinks Your E-Bike Needs a Pair of Smart Glasses

Volkswagen is bringing some high-tech car features to a new line of electric bikes, including an optional pair of smart glasses.

The German automaker recently unveiled two premium Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team.

Volkswagen Thinks Your E-Bike Needs a Pair of Smart Glasses Volkswagen is bringing some high-tech car features to a new line of electric bikes, including an optional pair of smart glasses. The German automaker recently unveiled two premium Volkswagen-branded e-bikes developed by n+, a bike company that has previously partnered with Mercedes-AMG’s Formula 1 team. © Volkswagen The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals. These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives. The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road. © Volkswagen The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn. Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear. The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts. And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision. © Volkswagen “[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release. The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray. Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models The Sport model starts at ,999, while the Crossover starts at ,349. The optional smart helmet costs 9, and the smart glasses will set customers back another 9. #Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The companies say the bikes were designed with the same “safety-first philosophy” as a modern passenger vehicle and come packed with tech more commonly found in cars like radar, a rearview camera, blind-spot alerts and turn signals.

These e-bikes arrive as automakers and startups are showing growing interest in smaller and cheaper electric vehicles designed for shorter trips. But Volkswagen’s smart bikes are surprisingly loaded with more safety features than many of the alternatives.

The bikes’ main feature is the Smart View system, which pairs a rear-facing camera with a screen mounted between the bikes’ handlebars. It also uses radar to provide blind-spot alerts, helping riders to stay aware of approaching traffic without having to take their eyes off the road.

Smart View Volkswagen
© Volkswagen

The bikes also feature an LED strip integrated into the frame’s top tube that acts as a high-visibility daytime running light. It glows red when the rider brakes and amber to signal a turn.

Beyond those standard features, Volkswagen and n+ are also offering some optional safety gear.

The first is a smart helmet that connects to the bike over Bluetooth and uses high-visibility LEDs that synched to the bike’s brake and turn signals. The helmet also includes a built-in accelerometer that can detect a possible crash and automatically send a text message to the rider’s emergency contacts.

And finally, riders can grab a pair of smart glasses with a heads-up display that puts navigation directions, blind-spot warnings, and other ride information directly within their field of vision.

Volkswagen Smart Glasses
© Volkswagen

“[T]echnologies like these are most commonly known from the automotive world. Seeing them make their way onto an e-bike demonstrates how technologies can evolve and be adapted in meaningful ways,” said Peter Jost, CEO of Volkswagen Accessories, Lifestyle & Licenses, in a press release.

The smart e-bikes come in two models. The Sport model is designed with agility in mind, while the Crossover model is built for comfort and includes a rear cargo tray.

Both bikes offer pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour (about 15.5 mph) and have a maximum estimated range of 160 kilometers (99 miles). The actual range will vary depending on factors like terrain, wind, tire pressure, and rider weight. Battery extenders are available for both models

The Sport model starts at $3,999, while the Crossover starts at $4,349. The optional smart helmet costs $399, and the smart glasses will set customers back another $499.

#Volkswagen #Thinks #EBike #Pair #Smart #Glassese-bikes,smart glasses,Volkswagen
The lettuce supplier at the center of the turbo diarrhea outbreak has spent millions of dollars to sway sentiment around food regulation and elect Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans, according to public filings.

Taylor Farms donated more than $2 million to conservative political groups in 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That includes a $1 million donation to MAGA Inc., the Trump-centric super PAC, and $1.1 million to other super PACs dedicated to electing Republicans.

From 2020 through the end of 2024, the company donated more than $1.6 million to conservative PACs, including a total of $850,000 to AFP Action, an anti-regulation super PAC with ties to the Koch network.

Bruce Taylor, the chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, is also a longtime donor to Republican causes. Since 2020, Taylor has personally donated more than $900,000 to Republican PACs and candidates, including contributions to Texas senator John Cornyn and Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn.

Like many corporate giants, Taylor Farms has also spent big on lobbying related to industry regulation. In early 2025, it hired lobbyists at the firm Sidley Austin to advocate on behalf of the company on “regulation of food safety,” according to disclosure documents. Since then, the company has spent $810,000 on its lobbying efforts.

Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, said that Taylor Farms’ donations are part of a wider problem in the American food industry: that multibillion-dollar companies use their financial resources to push policies that would reduce food safety regulation and accountability when outbreaks occur.

“The FDA has regulations in place for what food producers are supposed to be doing, but nobody wants to do it—because it’s expensive and difficult,” Nestle told WIRED.

In a post on X, the US Department of Health & Human Services emphasized that Taylor Farms’ political donations did not influence the Trump administration’s response to the cyclospora outbreak.

“This is how the FAKE NEWS works: imply collusion, ignore the facts,” the HHS account posted on Monday. “Nothing influences our decisions except science and the safety of the American people.”

Taylor Farms has apparently taken issue with the CDC’s and FDA’s handling of the investigation into the current cyclospora outbreak, which has sickened thousands of people across multiple states. The company recently claimed that the FDA “apologized” after announcing a false-positive test of a sample of Taylor Farms’ lettuce; the FDA told reporters that no, actually, an official apology never happened. (The company did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.)

Prior to the false positive and the non-apology, Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to discuss what a spokesperson for the company called “shortfalls” in the government agencies’ response. The New York Times reported that the meeting followed Taylor Farms’ recent hire of Trent Morse, the former deputy director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, who left the Trump administration to start a government relations firm in September.

The recent diarrhea debacle is not the first time that Taylor Farms, which brings in roughly $7 billion in annual revenue, has drawn the focus of federal regulators.

In 2013, the FDA named Taylor Farms as a source of a cyclospora outbreak that sickened hundreds. In 2015, the company voluntarily recalled multiple products containing celery because they may have been contaminated with E. coli. And in 2024, the company recalled certain yellow onions as part of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Following the outbreak, CBS News reported that FDA inspectors found dozens of violations at the Colorado Taylor Farms facility linked to the Quarter Pounder outbreak, including minimal handwashing and dirty equipment.

Since 2025, the FDA has inspected 18 American plants affiliated with Taylor Farms. Three resulted in “voluntary action indicated,” which means that while violations were found, they weren’t severe enough to warrant mandatory enforcement.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited at least 21 violations in Taylor Farms facilities across the US since the start of 2025. In one particularly gruesome case, the Department of Labor fined a New Jersey facility $1.1 million due to violations. The May 2025 inspection came after an employee died after sustaining injuries cleaning an industrial blancher at the facility.

#Taylor #Farms #Spent #Big #MAGA #AntiRegulatory #Lobbying #Diarrhea #Outbreakfda,donald trump,outbreak,food,agriculture,regulation,republicans,diarrhea">Taylor Farms Spent Big on MAGA and Anti-Regulatory Lobbying Before Diarrhea OutbreakThe lettuce supplier at the center of the turbo diarrhea outbreak has spent millions of dollars to sway sentiment around food regulation and elect Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans, according to public filings.Taylor Farms donated more than million to conservative political groups in 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That includes a million donation to MAGA Inc., the Trump-centric super PAC, and .1 million to other super PACs dedicated to electing Republicans.From 2020 through the end of 2024, the company donated more than .6 million to conservative PACs, including a total of 0,000 to AFP Action, an anti-regulation super PAC with ties to the Koch network.Bruce Taylor, the chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, is also a longtime donor to Republican causes. Since 2020, Taylor has personally donated more than 0,000 to Republican PACs and candidates, including contributions to Texas senator John Cornyn and Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn.Like many corporate giants, Taylor Farms has also spent big on lobbying related to industry regulation. In early 2025, it hired lobbyists at the firm Sidley Austin to advocate on behalf of the company on “regulation of food safety,” according to disclosure documents. Since then, the company has spent 0,000 on its lobbying efforts.Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, said that Taylor Farms’ donations are part of a wider problem in the American food industry: that multibillion-dollar companies use their financial resources to push policies that would reduce food safety regulation and accountability when outbreaks occur.“The FDA has regulations in place for what food producers are supposed to be doing, but nobody wants to do it—because it’s expensive and difficult,” Nestle told WIRED.In a post on X, the US Department of Health & Human Services emphasized that Taylor Farms’ political donations did not influence the Trump administration’s response to the cyclospora outbreak.“This is how the FAKE NEWS works: imply collusion, ignore the facts,” the HHS account posted on Monday. “Nothing influences our decisions except science and the safety of the American people.”Taylor Farms has apparently taken issue with the CDC’s and FDA’s handling of the investigation into the current cyclospora outbreak, which has sickened thousands of people across multiple states. The company recently claimed that the FDA “apologized” after announcing a false-positive test of a sample of Taylor Farms’ lettuce; the FDA told reporters that no, actually, an official apology never happened. (The company did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.)Prior to the false positive and the non-apology, Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to discuss what a spokesperson for the company called “shortfalls” in the government agencies’ response. The New York Times reported that the meeting followed Taylor Farms’ recent hire of Trent Morse, the former deputy director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, who left the Trump administration to start a government relations firm in September.The recent diarrhea debacle is not the first time that Taylor Farms, which brings in roughly billion in annual revenue, has drawn the focus of federal regulators.In 2013, the FDA named Taylor Farms as a source of a cyclospora outbreak that sickened hundreds. In 2015, the company voluntarily recalled multiple products containing celery because they may have been contaminated with E. coli. And in 2024, the company recalled certain yellow onions as part of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Following the outbreak, CBS News reported that FDA inspectors found dozens of violations at the Colorado Taylor Farms facility linked to the Quarter Pounder outbreak, including minimal handwashing and dirty equipment.Since 2025, the FDA has inspected 18 American plants affiliated with Taylor Farms. Three resulted in “voluntary action indicated,” which means that while violations were found, they weren’t severe enough to warrant mandatory enforcement.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited at least 21 violations in Taylor Farms facilities across the US since the start of 2025. In one particularly gruesome case, the Department of Labor fined a New Jersey facility .1 million due to violations. The May 2025 inspection came after an employee died after sustaining injuries cleaning an industrial blancher at the facility.#Taylor #Farms #Spent #Big #MAGA #AntiRegulatory #Lobbying #Diarrhea #Outbreakfda,donald trump,outbreak,food,agriculture,regulation,republicans,diarrhea

turbo diarrhea outbreak has spent millions of dollars to sway sentiment around food regulation and elect Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans, according to public filings.

Taylor Farms donated more than $2 million to conservative political groups in 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That includes a $1 million donation to MAGA Inc., the Trump-centric super PAC, and $1.1 million to other super PACs dedicated to electing Republicans.

From 2020 through the end of 2024, the company donated more than $1.6 million to conservative PACs, including a total of $850,000 to AFP Action, an anti-regulation super PAC with ties to the Koch network.

Bruce Taylor, the chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, is also a longtime donor to Republican causes. Since 2020, Taylor has personally donated more than $900,000 to Republican PACs and candidates, including contributions to Texas senator John Cornyn and Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn.

Like many corporate giants, Taylor Farms has also spent big on lobbying related to industry regulation. In early 2025, it hired lobbyists at the firm Sidley Austin to advocate on behalf of the company on “regulation of food safety,” according to disclosure documents. Since then, the company has spent $810,000 on its lobbying efforts.

Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, said that Taylor Farms’ donations are part of a wider problem in the American food industry: that multibillion-dollar companies use their financial resources to push policies that would reduce food safety regulation and accountability when outbreaks occur.

“The FDA has regulations in place for what food producers are supposed to be doing, but nobody wants to do it—because it’s expensive and difficult,” Nestle told WIRED.

In a post on X, the US Department of Health & Human Services emphasized that Taylor Farms’ political donations did not influence the Trump administration’s response to the cyclospora outbreak.

“This is how the FAKE NEWS works: imply collusion, ignore the facts,” the HHS account posted on Monday. “Nothing influences our decisions except science and the safety of the American people.”

Taylor Farms has apparently taken issue with the CDC’s and FDA’s handling of the investigation into the current cyclospora outbreak, which has sickened thousands of people across multiple states. The company recently claimed that the FDA “apologized” after announcing a false-positive test of a sample of Taylor Farms’ lettuce; the FDA told reporters that no, actually, an official apology never happened. (The company did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.)

Prior to the false positive and the non-apology, Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to discuss what a spokesperson for the company called “shortfalls” in the government agencies’ response. The New York Times reported that the meeting followed Taylor Farms’ recent hire of Trent Morse, the former deputy director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, who left the Trump administration to start a government relations firm in September.

The recent diarrhea debacle is not the first time that Taylor Farms, which brings in roughly $7 billion in annual revenue, has drawn the focus of federal regulators.

In 2013, the FDA named Taylor Farms as a source of a cyclospora outbreak that sickened hundreds. In 2015, the company voluntarily recalled multiple products containing celery because they may have been contaminated with E. coli. And in 2024, the company recalled certain yellow onions as part of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Following the outbreak, CBS News reported that FDA inspectors found dozens of violations at the Colorado Taylor Farms facility linked to the Quarter Pounder outbreak, including minimal handwashing and dirty equipment.

Since 2025, the FDA has inspected 18 American plants affiliated with Taylor Farms. Three resulted in “voluntary action indicated,” which means that while violations were found, they weren’t severe enough to warrant mandatory enforcement.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited at least 21 violations in Taylor Farms facilities across the US since the start of 2025. In one particularly gruesome case, the Department of Labor fined a New Jersey facility $1.1 million due to violations. The May 2025 inspection came after an employee died after sustaining injuries cleaning an industrial blancher at the facility.

#Taylor #Farms #Spent #Big #MAGA #AntiRegulatory #Lobbying #Diarrhea #Outbreakfda,donald trump,outbreak,food,agriculture,regulation,republicans,diarrhea">Taylor Farms Spent Big on MAGA and Anti-Regulatory Lobbying Before Diarrhea Outbreak

The lettuce supplier at the center of the turbo diarrhea outbreak has spent millions of dollars to sway sentiment around food regulation and elect Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans, according to public filings.

Taylor Farms donated more than $2 million to conservative political groups in 2025, according to Federal Election Commission filings. That includes a $1 million donation to MAGA Inc., the Trump-centric super PAC, and $1.1 million to other super PACs dedicated to electing Republicans.

From 2020 through the end of 2024, the company donated more than $1.6 million to conservative PACs, including a total of $850,000 to AFP Action, an anti-regulation super PAC with ties to the Koch network.

Bruce Taylor, the chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms, is also a longtime donor to Republican causes. Since 2020, Taylor has personally donated more than $900,000 to Republican PACs and candidates, including contributions to Texas senator John Cornyn and Tennessee senator Marsha Blackburn.

Like many corporate giants, Taylor Farms has also spent big on lobbying related to industry regulation. In early 2025, it hired lobbyists at the firm Sidley Austin to advocate on behalf of the company on “regulation of food safety,” according to disclosure documents. Since then, the company has spent $810,000 on its lobbying efforts.

Marion Nestle, a food policy expert, said that Taylor Farms’ donations are part of a wider problem in the American food industry: that multibillion-dollar companies use their financial resources to push policies that would reduce food safety regulation and accountability when outbreaks occur.

“The FDA has regulations in place for what food producers are supposed to be doing, but nobody wants to do it—because it’s expensive and difficult,” Nestle told WIRED.

In a post on X, the US Department of Health & Human Services emphasized that Taylor Farms’ political donations did not influence the Trump administration’s response to the cyclospora outbreak.

“This is how the FAKE NEWS works: imply collusion, ignore the facts,” the HHS account posted on Monday. “Nothing influences our decisions except science and the safety of the American people.”

Taylor Farms has apparently taken issue with the CDC’s and FDA’s handling of the investigation into the current cyclospora outbreak, which has sickened thousands of people across multiple states. The company recently claimed that the FDA “apologized” after announcing a false-positive test of a sample of Taylor Farms’ lettuce; the FDA told reporters that no, actually, an official apology never happened. (The company did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment.)

Prior to the false positive and the non-apology, Taylor Farms executives met with White House and FDA officials to discuss what a spokesperson for the company called “shortfalls” in the government agencies’ response. The New York Times reported that the meeting followed Taylor Farms’ recent hire of Trent Morse, the former deputy director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, who left the Trump administration to start a government relations firm in September.

The recent diarrhea debacle is not the first time that Taylor Farms, which brings in roughly $7 billion in annual revenue, has drawn the focus of federal regulators.

In 2013, the FDA named Taylor Farms as a source of a cyclospora outbreak that sickened hundreds. In 2015, the company voluntarily recalled multiple products containing celery because they may have been contaminated with E. coli. And in 2024, the company recalled certain yellow onions as part of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. Following the outbreak, CBS News reported that FDA inspectors found dozens of violations at the Colorado Taylor Farms facility linked to the Quarter Pounder outbreak, including minimal handwashing and dirty equipment.

Since 2025, the FDA has inspected 18 American plants affiliated with Taylor Farms. Three resulted in “voluntary action indicated,” which means that while violations were found, they weren’t severe enough to warrant mandatory enforcement.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited at least 21 violations in Taylor Farms facilities across the US since the start of 2025. In one particularly gruesome case, the Department of Labor fined a New Jersey facility $1.1 million due to violations. The May 2025 inspection came after an employee died after sustaining injuries cleaning an industrial blancher at the facility.

#Taylor #Farms #Spent #Big #MAGA #AntiRegulatory #Lobbying #Diarrhea #Outbreakfda,donald trump,outbreak,food,agriculture,regulation,republicans,diarrhea

With the rise in popularity of pickleball, a “pickleball movie” was inevitable. But I’m frankly relieved that The Dink is in the hands of director Josh Greenbaum. He’s the helmer of the brilliant buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar and the buddy documentary Will & Harper. 

Not only are both of these movies top-tier when it comes to feel-good films, but each centers on older women without making them the butt of any jokes about aging. Instead, both celebrate their heroines for their brightness, humor, horniness, and brave honesty. And The Dink follows in their footsteps, while being a bit more mainstream. 

The Dink brings together Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Patton Oswalt, and Aaron Chen for a buddy comedy that’s laugh-out-loud hilarious and terrifically heartwarming. But of course, it begins with the fiery rivalry between tennis players and pickleballers. 

The Dink is a sensationally silly sports comedy. 

Jake Johnson stars as lovable loser Dusty Boyd, who’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about his brush with long-passed glory. As a child, Dusty was a tennis prodigy, coached by his father Chuck (a comically mirthless Ed Harris) to be the next hard-hitting legend. But after a disastrous match against Andy Roddick (yes, Andy Roddick), his reputation was destroyed. So here he is, a lollygagging tennis coach to children at a club run by his father. 

But Dusty has a chance to redeem himself in his father’s eyes when a new enemy invades their pristine tennis courts. You guessed it: pickleballers. 

In a deranged slideshow presentation, Chuck explains to Dusty how the pickleballers — led by Patton Oswalt — are demanding more courts, which will obviously lead to pickleball dominating the world, so no one can play tennis again! To beat them back, Chuck sets up a tournament, pitting the best tennis player against the best pickleballer. Winner makes the call on the courts. 

However, Dusty’s mission to squash the pickleballers gets sidetracked when he begins playing himself, alongside some charismatic older women, including Candace (Mary Steenburgen). While it’s a rough start learning the game and its playful lingo, Dusty grows close to Candace at movie nights and country bars. And through their friendship, they both begin to realize how they’ve gotten stuck in the narratives of their past, which is inhibiting their growth toward a better future. Naturally, those lessons will be tied into a big final match, where pickleball becomes a metaphor for life. 

Don’t worry. You won’t have to strain to catch that message. Greenbaum’s got John McEnroe making a cameo in The Dink, playing an unsolicited commentator on the big match. 

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen lead a hilarious cast. 

With many years of New Girl behind him, Johnson has a lot of practice at playing a lovelorn buffoon. And given Steenburgen’s elegance, it’s easy to see how Dusty would fall for Candace. But The Dink rejects the temptation to become a cliched rom-com of opposites attract. Instead, Johnson will play the fool, while Steenburgen will be his straight man. Their chemistry is crackling and their comedic timing sublime. 

But Johnson switches gears opposite Aaron Chen, who plays a co-worker who idolizes Dusty and believes every tall tale. With Chen, Greenbaum is able to reach into more offbeat humor through goofy visual gags and a flat delivery that’s a sharp foil to Johnson’s funny floundering. 

Beyond that, The Dink has a jaw-dropping list of comedians turning up for gleefully ludicrous bit parts, like Ben Stiller as a rambling doctor, Oswalt as an uptight pickleballer, Chris Parnell as a smug tennis player, Chloe Fineman as a mean ex, and the late Lynne Marie Stewart (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-wee’s Playhouse) as a flirty friend of Candace’s. However, Ed Harris deserves a special shout-out here.

Ed Harris had me howling in The Dink.

This long-celebrated American actor has really sunk his teeth into playing a string of ruthless fathers, from the grisly thriller Love Lies Bleeding to the dark comedies Riff Raff and How to Make a Killing, and now The Dink. Where Johnson goes broad and Chen goes offbeat for punchlines, Harris goes unflinchingly serious. He’s treating this squabble between club members and courts as if it’s a threat to the Earth as we know it. He regards every Dusty freakout with a stern but unfurrowed brow. And that’s what makes his bits hysterical. 

Greenbaum smartly blends these different styles of comedy to craft a movie that’ll be a crowd-pleaser. There are bits in here weird enough to exist in the wacky and wondrous world of Barb and Star. Then there are riffs of physical comedy or a serene absurdity that feels in line with the comedy of Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. Johnson plays more broadly, expertly hitting every beat with aplomb. Steenburgen offers support with stinging one-liners and lively reactions. And I can’t stress enough: The Dink won’t mock pickleball or those who play it. 

Greenbaum’s brand of comedy is defiantly wacky, welcoming, and humane, never mean. So The Dink is sure to please, whatever your age or interest in its central sport. 

The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24.

Topics Streaming Apple TV

#Dink #review #Apples #pickleball #movie #laughoutloud #crowdpleaser">‘The Dink’ review: Apple’s pickleball movie is a laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser With the rise in popularity of pickleball, a “pickleball movie” was inevitable. But I’m frankly relieved that The Dink is in the hands of director Josh Greenbaum. He’s the helmer of the brilliant buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar and the buddy documentary Will & Harper. Not only are both of these movies top-tier when it comes to feel-good films, but each centers on older women without making them the butt of any jokes about aging. Instead, both celebrate their heroines for their brightness, humor, horniness, and brave honesty. And The Dink follows in their footsteps, while being a bit more mainstream. The Dink brings together Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Patton Oswalt, and Aaron Chen for a buddy comedy that’s laugh-out-loud hilarious and terrifically heartwarming. But of course, it begins with the fiery rivalry between tennis players and pickleballers.  The Dink is a sensationally silly sports comedy. Jake Johnson stars as lovable loser Dusty Boyd, who’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about his brush with long-passed glory. As a child, Dusty was a tennis prodigy, coached by his father Chuck (a comically mirthless Ed Harris) to be the next hard-hitting legend. But after a disastrous match against Andy Roddick (yes, Andy Roddick), his reputation was destroyed. So here he is, a lollygagging tennis coach to children at a club run by his father. But Dusty has a chance to redeem himself in his father’s eyes when a new enemy invades their pristine tennis courts. You guessed it: pickleballers. In a deranged slideshow presentation, Chuck explains to Dusty how the pickleballers — led by Patton Oswalt — are demanding more courts, which will obviously lead to pickleball dominating the world, so no one can play tennis again! To beat them back, Chuck sets up a tournament, pitting the best tennis player against the best pickleballer. Winner makes the call on the courts. However, Dusty’s mission to squash the pickleballers gets sidetracked when he begins playing himself, alongside some charismatic older women, including Candace (Mary Steenburgen). While it’s a rough start learning the game and its playful lingo, Dusty grows close to Candace at movie nights and country bars. And through their friendship, they both begin to realize how they’ve gotten stuck in the narratives of their past, which is inhibiting their growth toward a better future. Naturally, those lessons will be tied into a big final match, where pickleball becomes a metaphor for life.  Mashable Top Stories Don’t worry. You won’t have to strain to catch that message. Greenbaum’s got John McEnroe making a cameo in The Dink, playing an unsolicited commentator on the big match. Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen lead a hilarious cast. With many years of New Girl behind him, Johnson has a lot of practice at playing a lovelorn buffoon. And given Steenburgen’s elegance, it’s easy to see how Dusty would fall for Candace. But The Dink rejects the temptation to become a cliched rom-com of opposites attract. Instead, Johnson will play the fool, while Steenburgen will be his straight man. Their chemistry is crackling and their comedic timing sublime. But Johnson switches gears opposite Aaron Chen, who plays a co-worker who idolizes Dusty and believes every tall tale. With Chen, Greenbaum is able to reach into more offbeat humor through goofy visual gags and a flat delivery that’s a sharp foil to Johnson’s funny floundering. Beyond that, The Dink has a jaw-dropping list of comedians turning up for gleefully ludicrous bit parts, like Ben Stiller as a rambling doctor, Oswalt as an uptight pickleballer, Chris Parnell as a smug tennis player, Chloe Fineman as a mean ex, and the late Lynne Marie Stewart (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-wee’s Playhouse) as a flirty friend of Candace’s. However, Ed Harris deserves a special shout-out here. Ed Harris had me howling in The Dink. This long-celebrated American actor has really sunk his teeth into playing a string of ruthless fathers, from the grisly thriller Love Lies Bleeding to the dark comedies Riff Raff and How to Make a Killing, and now The Dink. Where Johnson goes broad and Chen goes offbeat for punchlines, Harris goes unflinchingly serious. He’s treating this squabble between club members and courts as if it’s a threat to the Earth as we know it. He regards every Dusty freakout with a stern but unfurrowed brow. And that’s what makes his bits hysterical. Greenbaum smartly blends these different styles of comedy to craft a movie that’ll be a crowd-pleaser. There are bits in here weird enough to exist in the wacky and wondrous world of Barb and Star. Then there are riffs of physical comedy or a serene absurdity that feels in line with the comedy of Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. Johnson plays more broadly, expertly hitting every beat with aplomb. Steenburgen offers support with stinging one-liners and lively reactions. And I can’t stress enough: The Dink won’t mock pickleball or those who play it. Greenbaum’s brand of comedy is defiantly wacky, welcoming, and humane, never mean. So The Dink is sure to please, whatever your age or interest in its central sport. The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24. Topics Streaming Apple TV #Dink #review #Apples #pickleball #movie #laughoutloud #crowdpleaser

The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24.

Topics Streaming Apple TV

#Dink #review #Apples #pickleball #movie #laughoutloud #crowdpleaser">‘The Dink’ review: Apple’s pickleball movie is a laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser

With the rise in popularity of pickleball, a “pickleball movie” was inevitable. But I’m frankly relieved that The Dink is in the hands of director Josh Greenbaum. He’s the helmer of the brilliant buddy comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar and the buddy documentary Will & Harper. 

Not only are both of these movies top-tier when it comes to feel-good films, but each centers on older women without making them the butt of any jokes about aging. Instead, both celebrate their heroines for their brightness, humor, horniness, and brave honesty. And The Dink follows in their footsteps, while being a bit more mainstream. 

The Dink brings together Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Patton Oswalt, and Aaron Chen for a buddy comedy that’s laugh-out-loud hilarious and terrifically heartwarming. But of course, it begins with the fiery rivalry between tennis players and pickleballers. 

The Dink is a sensationally silly sports comedy. 

Jake Johnson stars as lovable loser Dusty Boyd, who’ll tell anyone who’ll listen about his brush with long-passed glory. As a child, Dusty was a tennis prodigy, coached by his father Chuck (a comically mirthless Ed Harris) to be the next hard-hitting legend. But after a disastrous match against Andy Roddick (yes, Andy Roddick), his reputation was destroyed. So here he is, a lollygagging tennis coach to children at a club run by his father. 

But Dusty has a chance to redeem himself in his father’s eyes when a new enemy invades their pristine tennis courts. You guessed it: pickleballers. 

In a deranged slideshow presentation, Chuck explains to Dusty how the pickleballers — led by Patton Oswalt — are demanding more courts, which will obviously lead to pickleball dominating the world, so no one can play tennis again! To beat them back, Chuck sets up a tournament, pitting the best tennis player against the best pickleballer. Winner makes the call on the courts. 

However, Dusty’s mission to squash the pickleballers gets sidetracked when he begins playing himself, alongside some charismatic older women, including Candace (Mary Steenburgen). While it’s a rough start learning the game and its playful lingo, Dusty grows close to Candace at movie nights and country bars. And through their friendship, they both begin to realize how they’ve gotten stuck in the narratives of their past, which is inhibiting their growth toward a better future. Naturally, those lessons will be tied into a big final match, where pickleball becomes a metaphor for life. 

Don’t worry. You won’t have to strain to catch that message. Greenbaum’s got John McEnroe making a cameo in The Dink, playing an unsolicited commentator on the big match. 

Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen lead a hilarious cast. 

With many years of New Girl behind him, Johnson has a lot of practice at playing a lovelorn buffoon. And given Steenburgen’s elegance, it’s easy to see how Dusty would fall for Candace. But The Dink rejects the temptation to become a cliched rom-com of opposites attract. Instead, Johnson will play the fool, while Steenburgen will be his straight man. Their chemistry is crackling and their comedic timing sublime. 

But Johnson switches gears opposite Aaron Chen, who plays a co-worker who idolizes Dusty and believes every tall tale. With Chen, Greenbaum is able to reach into more offbeat humor through goofy visual gags and a flat delivery that’s a sharp foil to Johnson’s funny floundering. 

Beyond that, The Dink has a jaw-dropping list of comedians turning up for gleefully ludicrous bit parts, like Ben Stiller as a rambling doctor, Oswalt as an uptight pickleballer, Chris Parnell as a smug tennis player, Chloe Fineman as a mean ex, and the late Lynne Marie Stewart (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Pee-wee’s Playhouse) as a flirty friend of Candace’s. However, Ed Harris deserves a special shout-out here.

Ed Harris had me howling in The Dink.

This long-celebrated American actor has really sunk his teeth into playing a string of ruthless fathers, from the grisly thriller Love Lies Bleeding to the dark comedies Riff Raff and How to Make a Killing, and now The Dink. Where Johnson goes broad and Chen goes offbeat for punchlines, Harris goes unflinchingly serious. He’s treating this squabble between club members and courts as if it’s a threat to the Earth as we know it. He regards every Dusty freakout with a stern but unfurrowed brow. And that’s what makes his bits hysterical. 

Greenbaum smartly blends these different styles of comedy to craft a movie that’ll be a crowd-pleaser. There are bits in here weird enough to exist in the wacky and wondrous world of Barb and Star. Then there are riffs of physical comedy or a serene absurdity that feels in line with the comedy of Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. Johnson plays more broadly, expertly hitting every beat with aplomb. Steenburgen offers support with stinging one-liners and lively reactions. And I can’t stress enough: The Dink won’t mock pickleball or those who play it. 

Greenbaum’s brand of comedy is defiantly wacky, welcoming, and humane, never mean. So The Dink is sure to please, whatever your age or interest in its central sport. 

The Dink premieres on Apple TV on July 24.

Topics Streaming Apple TV

#Dink #review #Apples #pickleball #movie #laughoutloud #crowdpleaser

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