It knows you think it's dumb;it doesn't care

Rating: 6/10 (30 December 2007)

PIng-pong prodigy RAndy Daytona(Dan Fogler,as unlikely a leading man as they come!)has grown up under the failed ambitions of his youth to be a has-been,sideshow act when he is contacted by the Feds(led by a grimacing George Lopez)to infiltrate the racket of the mysterious Master Feng(Christopher Walken,far-and-away the best part of the movie).He'll need the help of the blind MAster Wong(JAmes HOng,having fun in a role written exclusively for him it appears)And his niece(MAggie Q,lean and mean!). Of course,there's added incentive for the one-time Olympic contestant turned wash-out:his hard-gambling father was one of the many victims of the nefarious Feng.
It is Oh-so-tempting to give this film a higher rating for me,because I found this film genuinely funny and also wise enough to understand just HOW clichéd and unoriginal the film's plot devices are(a quick list: aforementioned washout re-finding his game,wise old sage teacher,the tough-as-nails female lead/potential love-interest for male lead,high-stakes tournament),hence my summary line. Director Robert Ben Garant and co-writer(who also plays arch-baddie competitor and Cold war German stereotype Karl Wolfstaadt)Tom Lennon create a crass but effective comedy. I guess why I can't give this anything better than the rating I gave it simply because it seems like this movie skimps on the whole plot,choosing to instead put more emphasis on the gags. THat's good for the film in a microcosmic sort of way(i.e.the laughs)but it doesn't distinguish itself from other,similar-themed movies(Kingpin,Blades of Glory come immediately to mind). Still,as a rent,this is a basically likable way to waste about 90 minutes to two hours of your weekend or holidays.