Gravitas Add Some Topspin to Tully’s “Ping Pong Summer”

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Following in the footsteps of Infinitely Polar Bear and what should be a slew of post-fest “Sundance film” deals, Michael Tully’s crowd-pleaser ode to the 80’s has been picked up by Gravitas for theatrical/digital release and is logically being positioned for the months where sand castles, tonsil hockey, ice-cream headaches and first loves are aplenty. Millennium Ent. will handle the release of Ping Pong Summer on home vid.

Gist: Based on Tully’s own childhood experiences, this centers on an awkward teen who attempts to become a master breakdancer, ping pong player and ladies man all before the end of a summer break in 1985.

Worth Noting: Ping Pong Summer will have preemed at three of the four important first quarter film fests: Sundance, Rotterdam and SXSW.

Do We Care?: Stylistically a 180 degree turn from his previous film, Tully pulls off an equal balance between sweet-naturedness and funny bone kitschiness. Visually, atmospherically and tonally PPS sports an impressive down to a tee feel for the 80s –  getting the look, feel and sentiment of the era by dressing the film and directing its players in ghetto blaster/Pac-Man/vinyl pants palette splendor.

Eric Lavallée
Eric Lavalléehttps://www.ericlavallee.com
Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist, and critic at IONCINEMA.com, established in 2000. A regular at Sundance, Cannes, and Venice, Eric holds a BFA in film studies from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013, he served on the narrative competition jury at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson’s "This Teacher" (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). He is a Golden Globes Voter, member of the ICS (International Cinephile Society) and AQCC (Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma).

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