Review of Playing for Keeps (2012) by Michael M — 17 Mar 2013

Yes it's predictable and filled with the same tired love story cliches that most films like this are, but there is still a story told that needs to be resonant in material like this. You can have career in a sport or any profession and be successful at that job, but that success cannot replace the achievement of being a great parent.

The other element of this movie that cannot just be skipped over is the natural ability that Gerard Butler has when it comes to developing on screen chemistry with just about any actress or actor he is on camera with.

No, it is not an academy award winning movie, but it is not complete and utter garbage like other critics would lead you to believe. This film is not a stereotypical sports story in that yes there is soccer involved, but it is the story of parent hood and love that becomes the main focus.

Soccer just becomes a mechanism to tell the bigger story. We don't see every game and we don't see every practice and practical joke that are displayed in so many sport genre movies. So Playing For Keeps is definitely anything but the usual sports movie.

I give it a three because of Gerard Butler's on screen chemistry with his fellow cast mates and because simply the theme of parenting always touches my heart. Rent it or buy it and just enjoy it without expecting any more or less than what a simple movie like this brings.