**Release date:** 26 December 2025 (UK)
**Director:** Josh Safdie
**Starring**: Timothee Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A’zion, Kevin O’Leary
**Producers:** Timothée Chalamet, Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Anthony Katagas
**Cinematography:** Darius Khondji
**Screenplay:** Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein
**Running time:** 2h 29m

This film tricks you right from the first trailer. ‘An epic sports film about ping pong!’ I gleefully declared. ‘How dramatic!’ Because ping pong is just a bit silly, isn’t it? When you watch the Olympics, it ranks somewhere between the walk and fencing - you know the participants are taking it seriously, but it’s hard to look on it quite in the same league as, say, the velodrome or the 100 metre hurdles.

*One of the few ping pong scenes in this film*

Well, that’s sort of the whole point this film. Not the ping pong, the ping pong is pretty much incidental, but the whole business of being underestimated, mocked, humiliated, which always feels worst when it’s about something you’re deeply passionate about. Marty really cares about ping pong - or does he? He cares about winning, about being taken seriously, and somehow, the more he cares about it the further away it slides.

As discussed during The Smashing Machine, the three categories of sports film are ‘from humble beginnings to great success’, ‘downfall’ and ‘triumph over tragedy.’ As with The Smashing Machine, this film is none of those, but that’s because it’s not a sports film. During the first 20 minutes or so you might assume, as Marty does, that we’re going to witness him conquer the world of ping pong, prove all his doubters wrong and get the girl at the end. Spoiler alert: this film is not interested in that plot line.

*One of the many misadventures in this film*

Instead, we watch him ping pong around through a series of misadventures which range from tragicomic (a bath he’s in falling through the ceiling of a hotel room, prompting the man it falls on to utter the truly excellent line ‘who the hell are you?’) to the just plain tragic. If anything, the closest sports film blueprint is ‘downfall’ - Marty begins the film confidently turning down such humiliating (it’s ping pong, so his money making opportunities are not exactly top tier) gigs as manager of a shoe store, a half time side show with the Harlem Globe trotters and an exhibition match with his greatest rival, which he will be contractually required to lose. One by one, in a desperate need to reach the Championship where he can regain his self respect, he capitulates to each one, and much worse besides.

In all sorts of ways, it’s a film about humiliation - both very personal, and national. In his dominance, Marty’s rival, Keto Endo, wins back some of Japan’s post war pride, while Marty and his fellow Jewish competitor Kletzki are frequently treated as though said war was somehow all their fault. ‘My son died liberating you’ Kevin O’Leary’s buisness magnate accuses Kletzki when he notices the camp tattoo on his arm, as though Kletzki is expected to apologise. And Gwenyth Paltrow’s retired film star is desperately trying to regain some of her own pride, performing in a broadway show which, for her, clearly carries stakes as big as Marty’s World Championships do. In her dealings with Marty, she comes very close to the ultimate humiliation - and that’s before the reviews of her play come in. The culmination of Marty’s journey looks on the surface like the typical ending to a sports film, but the feelings it leaves you with are far more complex.

Speaking of complex - this was the first baby cinema screening where I began to wonder how many more we have left. The baby wriggled and babbled and squirmed and I found myself wondering if it was fair to sit with her in the dark for nearly three hours. What used to be calming is perhaps not quite as straightforward any more. We’re in the era of high chairs and play pens (still hunting for the latter) and last night I unhooked the next to me cot from the bed, after an unfortunate middle of the night head bumping episode which made me realise I’m keeping it there now for me, not for her. It’s a new year, and things are changing fast. Maybe I should take up ping pong?

Good things: Great performances all round, and a surprising lack of ping pong

Bad things: It’s not a great watch for dog lovers…(Or ping pong lovers, perhaps?)

My review: Surprisingly dramatic for a film about ping pong

Lily’s review: One poo and some outfit drama

Next week: Hamnet. Better get speed reading!

Marty Supreme

Hamnet

The Holiday