Ping Pong Summer (2014)

So much average

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Beautiful, moving film.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Ping Pong summer is a bit of an uneven movie yet there is a certain charm to it. The overall story arch is one that permeated most 80s movies and in this case seems to be a direct homage to The Karate Kid (1984). Essentially it's about an awkward teenager Rad Miracle (Marcello Conte) who's obsessed with ping-pong and the at-the-time hip-hop craze that doesn't fit in and hasn't really ever pushed himself to accomplish anything. With the help of former ping-pong champion mentor Randi Jammer (Susan Sarandon) he's able to beat the town bully in a ping-pong match.Speaking of underdog stories and movies in the vein of Karate Kid, this movie bares a strong resemblance to the cult film, No Retreat, No Surrender (1987 - Jean Claude Van-Damme's first movie), a movie about a teenager who stands up to bullies except replacing ping-pong with martial arts. Is it no coincidence that the protagonist's sidekick is an african-american teen obsessed with hip-hop just like in Ping-Pong Summer? Another bizarre connection this movie has to martial arts movies is that it utilizes a song called "Friends" from a super obscure martial arts movie, Miami Connection (1987). The version heard in Ping-Pong Summer however isn't the one heard in MC but a very identical one that was recorded in the 2010s for the video game Far Cry 3. By the mid 80s hip-hop was in the public eye and this movie is really reaching for that "electric boogaloo" feel. Something that further helps accomplish this 1985 feel is that it takes place in Ocean City, Maryland. OC is a place, though well maintained and nice, hasn't really changed its look and even businesses for the past 30 years especially when looking at the skyline of condominiums and hotels. So if you're a regular vacationer to the resort town you'll have a fun time seeing all of the familiar locations and landmarks utilized throughout including a bizarre shot of the boardwalk where you accidentally see the massive 9/11 firefighter memorial. A cheesy nod to nostalgia goes to Lea Thompson, who plays Rad's mom, when Rad and friend Teddy (Myles Massey) walk pass a parked DeLorean. I don't think I have to explain that reference. One big problem I feel that the director and screenplay came in short on is that this movie is almost too dark and depressing to be an 80s movie. Rad doesn't have that likable or vibrant archetype that Daniel (Ralph Macchio) has in Karate Kid or Marty (Michael J. Fox) has in Back to The Future as well as the cast of The Goonies have. He's rendered in a way that's way too depressing and even pathetic. In some cases you almost sympathize with the bullies as to why they pick on him. A key part of 80s cinema is for it to be upbeat even if the main character is troubled. It also doesn't help that his sister, Michelle (Helena Seabrook) is a full blown goth chick. I had no idea goth was even a thing in the 80s. I have to admit that I cannot think of one likable character throughout the entire movie. The movie also tried its best to capture an 80s movie look with the at-the-time usual refined grain look photography. They even shot on original vintage equipment to give it this look but since the movie is lit so dark it looks like some odd grain effect was pasted over it. That's another problem I have with it. It's lit and photographed too dark and dull. It should've had more of a bright and punchy look to it especially since it takes place at a beach. All in all I'm not really sure if it's worth checking out. It seems like a lot of people only did because Susan Sarandon is in it. Get ready to sit through pretty much the entire movie before you just even see her let alone act. I think it would actually be more exciting to see if you're familiar with Ocean City in my opinion. The charm definitely comes from the nostalgia not the characters or even story. Remove the nostalgia and there's nothing special about it.

Ping Pong Summer, at the time I'm writing this, has only a 5.3/10 rating. Apparently it's not too popular with viewers, but I loved it. Why? Hmm, maybe it's because I hate the 21st century, I hate the digital age and it's nice to see a movie where there's not a single damned cellular phone in sight. Maybe I'm happy to find a movie made in 2014 that doesn't have any crude humor in it. Maybe it's all the Eighties nostalgia, how the fashion, makeup, cars, music and script all matches up to the era, or maybe it's the far out animation featured in the title credits? If you're looking for a funny, old school-style movie with decent acting and a good plot, this is definitely one you'll want to see! The plot follows a very eventful summer in the life of Rad (Radical, poor kid) Miracle, a teenage boy growing up in 1985 who gets dragged along with his mom, dad and slightly gothy-looking sister to a summer house in Maryland. It's right up there with movies like The Ice Storm (1997), Harold and Maude (1972), Super 8 (2011), National Lampoon Vacation (1983), Sleepaway Camp (1983) and My Girl (1991) for memorable coming-of-age movies. I was sorta dreading Ping Pong Summer at first but I'm glad I watched it; it was hilarious without being rude, and the characters were all really original, odd in a good way, and it honestly deserves a better rep.

One's impression while watching this film is fairly mixed: there were many parts that made it funnier than the typical Hollywood Asian rip-off (intentionally so) which kept me interested in the film. Furthermore, the acting is not as bad as typical of this genre, and I found some of the characters especially expressive and entertaining.However, the fault of the film is that it falls victim to many of the errors of US rips on Japanese cinema: the quality being grainy and questionable, the simplicity of the plot and having shocking simplicity in the archetypes of good & evil, and furthermore, being overall rather corny.But if you can stand for a typical "re-imagined" B movie, this is not so bad; I found it entertaining and its' pong scenes were not very shabby, either. And furthermore, the film did not fall victim to any ridiculous subplot or added Twilight-esque love-stories, nor was it ruined by an overwhelming personality clogging up the story, which can easily kill other films. For what they have, a decent film. If you see it for what it is, it is not hard to watch and enjoy it. Decent for anybody who has an attachment to the genre.

"Saturday, one game, no excuses." During the summer of 1985 Rad Miracle (Conte) is on a vacation with his parents that he isn't happy about. There is only one thing that keeps him going, hip hop dancing. When he starts to explore his summer home he finds a new best friend, his first crush, bullies and a wacky local who is more then meets the eye. For a long time now I have maintained that when one idea hits it gets copied over and over until it ruins the idea. Examples are disaster movies, gladiator movies, teens having to save the world (Twilight, Hunger Games, Divergent, etc...). This one continues a trend of the outcast kid who discovers himself over the summer that started with The Way Way Back. Having said that there really isn't much else to talk about other then this one also has a little Karate Kid mixed in. I did like it, don't get me wrong, but I also feel like it's time for a new idea. Overall, a good movie but a theme that is starting to become to repetitious for it to have any real impact anymore. I give it a B.