Playing for Keeps (2012)

This movie is very corny, to say the least, but there are some neat scenes. Gerard Butler need to find better scripts.

******SPOILER ALERT***** This turkey of a movie stars George, a retired soccer-player who takes over coaching his son's soccer team. Problem is, his son lives with his ex-wife, who is now engaged to marry Matt. Had the movie maintained this entirely believable plot line, it would be a decent movie. But the writers decided to insult our collective intelligence bait-and-switch style.The ex-wife, Stacey, never shows much overt interest in George, save for a couple of weak scenes. She remembers that he left her when the child was only about four years old. She is shown merely tolerating his presence and encouraging him to be a better dad. But somehow they manage to end up together again. SO, WHEN DID THIS TRANSFORMATION OCCUR? She certainly was not around him long enough to notice any major change in him. The scene at the bridal shop was an imposition, and she saw suggestive pictures of him and another woman. Jeeze. The writers obviously can't decide if George is a jerk for abandoning his child, a womanizer who attracts all those women, or a decent guy because he wouldn't sleep with the wife of another parent. But, they manage to confuse us further when George uses the team's money to pay his rent. Oh, boy.The film ends with the improbable reunion of George and Stacey, after Stacey calls off the wedding. For good measure, it incorporates an impromptu soccer game in the front yard of Stacy and his now ex-fiancée, never mind that he would be steaming by now. There is no explanation why they would rub it in like this, considering that throughout the movie, Matt is portrayed as an upstanding good guy. Somewhere, it is described as a comedy. Mmmm… okay. If you say so.

Fellas, this is one that you would obviously watch with the cheese and kisses (misses). Or if you are a big fan of Gerard Butler and chick-flicks, this is also for you (guilty). Playing for keeps follows a former soccer star who has fallen on hard times and starts to coach his son's soccer team as a way to get his life back on track. Of course though, being Gerard Butler has its challenges. He gets swamped by advances by all of the attractive soccer mums, while trying to mend his relationship with his ex-wife played by Jessica Biel. For what it is, it's entertaining enough with some funny moments along the way. The cast is actually quite large with Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer as the soccer mums and Dennis Quaid who is pretty funny as Uma Thurman's cheating husband and powerful business man, who tries to befriend Butler. It is also directed by Gabriele Muccino who has had plenty of success with 'The Pursuit of Happiness' and 'Seven Pounds'. This movie feels similar to the Will Ferrell comedy, 'Kicking & Screaming', where he also plays a little league soccer coach, but Playing for Keeps has less comedy and way more romance. Still, if you enjoyed Butlers previous comedies like 'The Bounty Hunter' and 'The Ugly Truth', then you should also enjoy this.My Rating: 6/10For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

On DVD, a loan from my local public library.Here's the deal, a Scotsman, a former star big-time soccer player was also a bit of a "bad boy". As such he alienated his now former wife, but has moved to Virginia to be near his young son. He really realizes what a bad boy he was, but is hoping to regain the affections of his ex-wife by showing her he has become a better person. Gerard Butler is the man, George and Jessica Biel is his former wife Stacie. Their cute little son is Noah Lomax as Lewis . The situation is complicated when George learns that Stacie is planning on marrying her boyfriend of almost 3 years. The meat of the story kicks in when George is observing his son's soccer team practice and sees that the "coach" knows nothing at all about soccer, and seems otherwise worthless. So unable to resist George steps in, shows the kids a few things, and becomes their coach. This provides a bonding experience with his son, and also results in a winning soccer team.The part I didn't care for were the several single soccer moms who made aggressive attempts to get George to romance them, plus at least one married woman. It didn't seem realistic. But the saving grace was that George mostly handled them well, trying to stay true to his intention to get back together with Stacie.Overall a mostly formulaic romantic comedy with attractive actors. We enjoyed it.SPOILERS: George is struggling for money and one of the single moms helps him get an audition with ESPN as an on-air soccer news analyst. He gets the offer and is prepared to move to Connecticut. But as he drives away he recalls his son asking him to never move away again. He returns, plans to find a job locally, and Stacie breaks her engagement to the other guy.