Ping Pong | Telescope Film
Ping Pong

Ping Pong (ピンポン)

Critic Rating

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  • Japan
  • 2002
  • · 114m

Director Fumihiko Sori
Cast Yosuke Kubozuka, Arata Iura, Sam Lee, Shido Nakamura, Koji Ohkura, Suzuki Matsuo
Genre Comedy, Drama

As children, the introverted Smile was being bullied by a gang of kids until the brash Peco comes by and chases all of them them away. Peco then takes Smile under his wings and teaches him how to play the game of ping pong. From there a life long best friend relationship comes into existence between these two polar opposite kids. Fast forward a decade later, these two best friends try to deal with their own inner turmoils, as they move further and further into the regional ping pong tournament. Peco has to overcome a knee injury while trying to rediscover the fun aspects of the game of Ping Pong. Meanwhile, Smile now seems to have gained the killer instinct by going through a rigorous training regiment instilled by his high school coach. As the tournament progresses it becomes more likely that these two best friends will face off against each in the final match.

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What are critics saying?

75

Chicago Tribune by Michael Wilmington

There's nothing particularly original or striking about Ping Pong except its style. It's a breezy, likable story, and the director here, Fumihiko Sori, obviously enjoys his work.

70

The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis

Stylistically stunning and completely nuts, Ping Pong is nevertheless perceptive about male social hierarchies and the benefits of knowing your place.

70

Variety by Dennis Harvey

Very striking stylistic control is exerted in this absorbing if overlong tale of angst-ridden high school competitors.

70

Film Threat by Ross Williams

Despite being a little cliché, Ping Pong is a hell of a lot of fun.

58

Seattle Post-Intelligencer by Sean Axmaker

There are no surprises in this match, but director Fumihiko Sori makes the games visually thrilling.

50

Chicago Reader by J.R. Jones

The main characters are a couple of revered high school table-tennis champs (one short and aggressive, the other tall and moody), and their efforts to win a big national tournament accommodate plenty of Zen aphorisms, glaring showdowns, and slow-motion paddle swinging.

50

The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck

Overlong and overstuffed with characters and situations, Ping Pong doesn't really succeed on a dramatic level. But there is no denying its skill in rendering its chosen milieu with an intense visual immediacy.

40

Village Voice

The film vividly portrays the obsessive landscape of Japanese table tennis, but the endless ping . . . pong of that teeny ball bouncing over that teeny net gets tiresome, especially in slo-mo.