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Plot, Details & Awards

Ping Pong Playa

Rated PG-13 for language, including some sexual remarks and drug references.

PG-13 In Theaters 09/5/2008 , 96min.
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Plot & Details

An aimless young Chinese-American finds his hoop dreams unexpectedly sidelined when his parents are injured in an accident and he is forced to give ping-pong lessons in the fiction feature debut of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu (In the Realms of the Unreal). Christopher "C-dub" Wang (Jimmy Tsai) may not be able to sink a lay-up to save his life, yet he longs to realize his lifelong goal of playing in the NBA. Add to this the fact that C-dub still lives at home and will likely never emerge from under the shadow of his successful older brother, Michael (Roger Fan), and it's beginning to look like this wannabe pro-athlete is going nowhere fast. C-dub's parents (Jim Lau and Elizabeth Sung) are a pair of former table tennis champs who now own a successful ping-pong supply shop and teach lessons on the side. Much like his parents were back in the day, C-dub's brother Michael (Roger Fan) is a ping-pong wizard who is championed by the Chinese community for taking top rank in the tournaments year after year. But now, Michael and C-dub's parents have both been injured in a car accident, forcing the ill-equipped -- and extremely reluctant -- family slacker to take over the ping-pong teaching duties. While at first C-dub doesn't take his new responsibility all too seriously, he quickly discovers that the future of his family rests in his hands after Michael is injured and rendered unable to compete in this year's championships. Soon, C-dub realizes that by stepping in for Michael and winning the championships, he may also be able to win the heart of the girl he has fallen head over heels in love with.
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • Genre(s): Drama
  • Run Time: 96min.
  • Theatrical Release Date: 09/05/2008
  • DVD Release Date: 01/06/2009
  • Distributor(s): IFC
  • Director(s): Jessica Yu
  • Starring: Jimmy Tsai , Smith Cho , Khary Payton , Roger Fan , Peter Paige
  • Themes: Underdogs,Sibling Relationships,Coaches and Players
  • Tone: Affectionate,Humorous,Quirky
  • Keywords: basketball,brother,family-business,ping-pong,slacker
  • Country of Origin: USA - Limited (09-05-2008)
  • Language: English

Awards

Toronto International Film Festival

Year Award CategoryCast & Crew Result
2007 Toronto International Film Festival Film Presented Nominated
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