Sports Comedy
- Written by Jimmy Tsai and Jessica Yu
- Directed by Jessica Yu
We all know the sports movie formula: Plot twist puts lovable loser(s) into a situation where he, she, or they must rise over adversity, get over the mental block that’s been holding them back, train tirelessly for the length of a montage, and win the big game.
Jessica Yu and Jimmy Tsai don’t alter the formula much, except in making most of the characters Chinese Americans, making the game ping pong, and putting rap on the soundtrack. One other change: The loser protagonist isn’t lovable; he’s just a jerk.
This movie gives you no reason to root for Chris (Jimmy Tsai). He’s selfish, irresponsible, 
manipulative, and dishonest. That would be okay–at least in a comic hero–if he was clever, or witty, or simply had an infectious personality. He doesn’t. He comes off more like a comic heavy; the guy we want to see with pie on his face while the hero gets the girl.
Although a grown man, Chris lives with his parents, avoids chores, and can’t hold onto a job. He spends his time playing basketball with elementary school kids. The rest of his family plays ping pong. His mother teaches it. His father runs a ping ping supply store. His older brother (the doctor) wins championships. When his brother and mother are injured in a car accident, Chris must take over her class and eventually save the family’s honor and business by winning the Golden Cock Tournament (I don’t know if that name was meant as a joke).
Some of the jokes hit home, but just as many fall flat. The writers show very little understanding of comic timing. The script sets up a running joke where no white person can make a casual comment about safe driving without offending Chris, but never goes anywhere with it.
Worst of all, the film feels homophobic. The two white villains are played as broad gay male stereotypes–and not even funny gay male stereotypes. I kept thinking “Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m oversensitive.” But a gag in the closing credits left no doubt.
Hollywood keeps making sports movies because the formula works. It even works here–not just with the laughs but with those occasional moments where the story catches hold of you. But the hold doesn’t stick.
Ping Pong Playa screened at the 2008 San Francisco Asian American Film Festival.
Bayflicks 