SFIAAFF: “Ping Pong Playa”
Mar 19th, 2008 by dino-ray
Jimmy Tsai (left) as Christopher “C-Dub” Wang and Andrew Vo as Felix
Balls of Fury, Schmalls of Fury, if you see only one ping pong comedy in your entire life, then watch Ping Pong Playa – a story about video game couch potato b-ball jersey clad Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (Jimmy Tsai) and his attempt to carry on the Wang family legacy. Of course, he adds his “I’m a true playa yo!” attitude to the mix.
C-dub, who takes confident joy in demolishing little kids on the basketball court, is forced to teach little ones the art of ping pong after his table tennis affluent mom (Elizabeth Sung) and golden boy brother Michael (Roger Fan) are injured in a car accident (which is inadvertedly caused by C-dub). With none of his family members not able to fill in the empty spot at the community center’s next big competition, they reluctantly put a paddle in his hand to defend the family’s honor.
Javin Reid as Prabakar (far left), Andrew Vo as Felix (2nd from right)
What I liked: I was LOLing all over the place. This movie cracked me up. Tsai (who co-wrote the story with Academy Award winning director Jessica Yu) blazes the screen with his portrayal of the slacker basketball playing hip-hop head, C-dub.
The movie had the potential to be cheesy, full of racial stereotypes and kitsch – it was anything but. The cast meshes well together and despite the ongoing comedic storyline of ping pong, it’s a sweet story of family and friendship.
And P.S… the kids give a great jolt of youthful energy and hilarity in the movie – not to mention C-Dub’s BFF, JP Money (Khary Payton).
What I didn’t like: There wasn’t too much I didn’t like. If anything, there were parts of C-dub that grated at my nerves. Everyone – black, white, Asian or whatever – knows this guy. He’s obnoxious. He’s a wannabe. He’s lazy. He doesn’t think – but his charm eclipses all of that.
My rating: I give it a “B+” for bouncing hilarity and underdog charm.
[...] Balls of Fury, Schmalls of Fury, if you see only one ping pong comedy in your entire life, then watch Ping Pong Playa – a story about video game couch potato b-ball jersey clad Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (Jimmy Tsai) and his attempt to carry on the Wang family legacy. Of course, he adds his “I’m a true playa yo!” attitude to the mix. Click here to read more [...]
hilarious movie! lol