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'Top Spin': The movie is charming because of the table tennis competitors' intensity

( Unrated ) ( Monitor Movie Guide )

Directors Mina T. Son and Sara Newens follow three young table tennis players as the subjects attempt to make it to the 2012 Olympics.

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Courtesy of First Run Features
Lily Zhang, the world's highest ranked player in her age group, as seen in 'Top Spin' a film by Sara Newens and Mina T. Son.
  • By Peter Rainer Film critic

I am probably not the most objective person to be reviewing the table tennis documentary “Top Spin,” since I used to play competitively as a kid. But then again, I was mediocre and this film is about Olympics-bound kids. Still, the rat-a-tat of the paddles hitting those featherlight balls brought back those days to me.

Directors Mina T. Son and Sara Newens followed three young competitors – two-time US Women’s Champion Ariel Hsing; Lily Zhang, another phenom; and Michael Landers, at 15, the youngest US men’s champion. Will any or all of them make it to the 2012 London Olympics? Weary as I am of documentaries built around competitions, this one is charming because the three teens, especially the girls, are so radiantly intense about the sport. And yes, you doubters, it is a sport. You’ll learn all about topspins, underspins, and side spins. You’ll also learn about that most dreaded and annoying of table-tennis adversaries, the “chopper.” This is the player who doesn’t do anything except rebound all your shots until you eventually make a mistake. Those guys used to drive me nuts. Glad to know Ariel, Lily, and Michael aren’t too crazy about them, either. Grade: B (This film is not rated.)

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