PING PONG PLAYA
RYAN: “Ping Pong Playa” is the first scripted film from Oscar-winning documentary short director Jessica Yu, and it’s both funny and politically incorrect.
CAROLINE: I didn’t get to go to this screening with you, but the premise reminds me of that movie from last summer, “Balls of Fury.”
RYAN: This movie is about ping-pong, but it’s nothing at all like “Balls of Fury.” It’s much better, actually. It’s about a Chinese-American boy who has to help his family business, which is basically ping-pong instruction. It breaks down a lot of Chinese stereotypes and pokes fun at others, and it’s a refreshingly funny look into a community most of us wouldn’t otherwise know about.
CAROLINE: I confess that I know very little about this film. Who’s in it?
RYAN: I was initially interested because two of the movie’s co-stars, Peter Paige and Scott Lowell, were on Showtime’s “Queer as Folk.” They played lovers on that show and it was so cool to see them together again. They both look great and they’re hilarious. They were the main reason I wanted to see this movie, and that may also be a draw for my gay brothers and sisters.
CAROLINE: How on earth do they relate to a Chinese boy playing ping-pong?
RYAN: They’re the antagonists in the story. They’re the competitors in the final ping-pong tournament where the winner receives The Golden Cock.
CAROLINE: Seriously?
RYAN: [laughs’ Yes, but don’t be fooled – it’s a chicken. It’s quite funny.
CAROLINE: How’s the lead guy?
RYAN: He’s good. It’s a coming-of-age story for him because his brother has been the ping-pong champion for several years running and he’s the underdog. The script is clever and funny and it’s directed pretty well too. It’s very independent and you can tell it was made for pretty cheap, but for a first-time director, it’s pretty good.
CAROLINE: Let’s be honest – is anyone going to see this movie?
RYAN: No, because it’s got a very limited release. But it’ll be good on DVD for people interested in Asian-American film and people who want to see the guys from “Queer as Folk” again.
CAROLINE: Bottom line?
RYAN: I think it’s worth checking out if you live in a city where it’s playing and you like funny independent movies. It’s no “Hamlet 2,” but it’s very cute.