“Marty Supreme Christmas day, Marty Supreme Christmas day, Marty Supreme Christmas day” has been heard widely over the internet for the months preceding its release date. With jackets promoting the film worn by celebrities from Frank Ocean to Bill Nye, there was no sector of the internet that was left out of the promotion for this film. 

Amassing an astounding 94% on rotten tomatoes, the Josh Sadie film “Marty Supreme” was a box office smash hit, and has certainly lived up to the hype that formed around it months prior. 

The film begins with Timothee Chalamet as Marty Mauser in his natural element, working in his uncle’s shoe store, where we quickly learn he doesn’t enjoy this profession. He has bigger dreams ahead of him: becoming a world champion ping pong player (an uncommon goal to many).

While the anticipation surrounding the film painted this as a triumphant ping pong movie and even potentially a biopic as the character of Mauser is roughly based off of the real life “Marty Supreme,” Marty Reisman, it is far from that. 

At the start, we are placed into the 1950s, sharply contradicted by the soundtrack of primarily 80s synthpop including songs such as “Forever Young” by Alphaville, “The Order of Death” by Public Image Ltd., and “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears. However, this directorial choice sets the tone for Mauser’s mindset in the rest of the film.

As we follow Marty, we see him constantly striving for goals so far out of his reach, just as the 80s soundtrack is so far from the era of the 1950s that Mauser does not conform to. 

While going into the film I expected Mauser to come out the victor in all of his endeavors through the classic hero’s journey, we see him fail time and time again with each passing act. His selfish actions, although appearing to pay off in the moment, always end with him receiving karma that he is certainly due for. 

However, with each selfish act Marty made, I still felt a desire to see him succeed. Whether it be the charisma of the character Marty Mauser or of Chalamet himself, the smooth talker finds a way to finesse himself into getting all that he wants. 

While it is relieving to see him face his karma, I felt a stronger draw to the exhilaration I felt each time Mauser would get himself caught in a terrible situation and still find a way out of it. The perceived ping pong movie turned out to be so much more than met the eye and quickly brought about a thrilling 2.5 hour endeavor shared between my friends and I, followed by a much needed debrief after the chaos we witnessed. 

Through the viewing spent with my hands cupped around my mouth in shock and cringing with my teeth pressed against each other, “Marty Supreme” is well worth the watch for those who enjoy thriller movies and constantly being on edge, although this may be one to pass on watching with your parents.