Ping Pong Summer (2014)

A family vacation during the summer of 1985 changes everything for a teenage boy obsessed with ping pong.

Director:

Michael Tully

Writer:

Michael Tully

Stars:

Marcello Conte, Judah Friedlander, Amy Sedaris

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marcello Conte	...	Radical Miracle
Robert Hambury	...	Old Neighbor
Helena May Seabrook	...	Michelle Miracle (as Helena Seabrook)
John Hannah	...	Brendan Miracle
Lea Thompson	...	Crandall Miracle
Francis J. Tully	...	Naked Burnt Man
Mary Ann Tully	...	Naked Burnt Man's Wife
Emmi Shockley	...	Stacy Summers
Joseph McCaughtry	...	Lyle Ace
Andy Riddle	...	Dale Lyons
Judah Friedlander	...	Anthony
Jimmy Pelletier	...	Skateboarder
Pierce Haugh	...	Weird Pool Kid
Myles Massey	...	Teddy Fryy
Susan Sarandon	...	Randi Jammer

Storyline

The year is 1985. Rad Miracle is a shy 13-year-old white kid who's obsessed with two things: ping pong and hip hop. During his family's annual summer vacation to Ocean City, Maryland, Rad makes a new best friend, experiences his first real crush, becomes the target of rich, racist local bullies, and finds an unexpected mentor in his outcast next-door neighbor. Ping Pong Summer is about that time in your life when you're treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you're as funky fresh as it gets.

---

Plot Keywords:

teenager | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "I survived the Sooper Dooper Looper" tee shirt is a roller coaster from the 1970s-80s era Hersey Park amusement park in Pennsylvania. Its is a common vacation spot for Marylanders.

---

Goofs

The movie takes place 1985, but the father's car is a 1989 Chevy Caprice.

---

Quotes

Teddy Fryy: See that Icee cup she's always got in her hand? Well, that's not an Icee she's drinking. It's funk punch.
Radical Miracle: What's funk punch?
Teddy Fryy: Funk punch is where you combine an Icee with Pop Rocks and Pixy Stix and sometimes even COCAINE and drink it really fast. She's a funk punch junkie.

---

Soundtracks

Sister Christian
Written by Kelly Keagy
Performed by Night Ranger

User Reviews

sweet but needs better kid actors

It's 1985. Rad Miracle (Marcello Conte) is an awkward teen loner. He loves ping pong and hip hop. His sister Michelle (Helena Seabrook) is a bitter sarcastic teen. His parents state trooper Brendan (John Hannah) and Crandall (Lea Thompson) are cheapskates. They got a deal on their Ocean City annual summer vacation. He's infatuated with Stacy Summers. Rich kids Lyle Ace and Dale Lyons are picking on him. His new friend Teddy Fryy tells him that his next door neighbor Randi Jammer (Susan Sarandon) is a weirdo but she turns out to be a great mentor.

I really want to root for these kids. I kinda like them in their shy dorky ways. Their story is sweet and a little cliché. I like the popular girl who has a problem. The main drawback are the teen actors. I don't want to say bad things about them but they're mostly amateurs. It shows. Their dialog, their interactions and their general acting abilities are all a bit deficient. Writer/director Michael Tully needs to give Rad another dimension. He needs an awkward sense of humor or something more than just being shy. The adults are fine and I love Hannah and Thompson. Sarandon has some nice moments. Amy Sedaris has a nice fun short section. The kids need a bit more charisma.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 June 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ping Pong Summer

Filming Locations:

Ocean City, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,781, 8 June 2014

Gross USA:

$52,909

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$52,909

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compass Entertainment, Epic Match Media, Indie Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color