Photo by Dale Robinette
Ex-jock George Dryer gets more attention from women than he can handle in "Playing for Keeps."
"Playing For Keeps" is a romantic comedy about a charming, down-on-his luck former soccer star who returns home to put his life back together. Looking ...
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual situations, language and a brief intense image
Length: 105 minutes
Released: December 7, 2012 Nationwide
Cast: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Judy Greer, Catherine Zeta-Jones
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Writer: Robbie Fox
The oddly unsatisfying big screen career of Gerard Butler takes another unfortunate turn with "Playing for Keeps," a sexualized romantic comedy built around kids' soccer. It makes its way into theaters as Butler's last effort, "Chasing Mavericks," beats a hasty retreat to home video.
"Keeps" has Butler dialing down his swagger and charisma when the whole movie is utterly reliant on both. As a divorced ex-jock who needs to grow up and be a father to his kid, this guy should be all testosterone, wallowing in past glory and the sexual conquests that made him a soccer legend and, we're led to believe, ended his marriage.
But whatever edge George Dryer had in Robbie Fox's script, Butler has rubbed off. He's at his most charming here, pandering to his female fan base. More's the pity, because that base is shrinking by the hour.
George is a Scot whose playing days are over. Broke and longing for a shot at a TV sportscasting career, he's moved to northern Virginia where his ex (Jessica Biel) and their son (Noah Lomax) live.
The kid's into soccer since, as George notes, "It's in your blood." He and his team just need proper coaching, something the cellphone dads of suburban Washington can't provide.
So George takes over.
That's when the soccer moms come around. Some are single, some aren't. Barb (the adorable Judy Greer) breaks into tears every time she questions the coach about her son, but she's not above throwing herself at the guy. Nor is the vivacious manhunter Denise (Catherine Zeta-Jones).
Dennis Quaid is a rich backslapper who uses George's celebrity to impress clients, but whose neglected wife (Uma Thurman) could use a little Scotch — or a big strapping Scot.
Meanwhile, George is making a heartfelt, sentimental play for the ex-wife, who is about to remarry and isn't hearing it.
A few performers stand out here, with Greer, Thurman and Quaid landing the laughs. But Gabriele ("Seven Pounds") Muccino's direction is an uncomfortable mush of sentimental and sexy.
All those kids on the set, those long game sequences and the star's determination to play safe and sweet and nice rob "Keeps" of its potential.
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