Review of Playing for Keeps (2012) by Orlando O — 06 Mar 2013

Gerard Butlers next romantic comedy that not only is unfunny but a complete mess. George (Gerard Butler) was a professional soccer player until he was injured. He struggles trying to make a leaving while wishing to become a sportscaster.

He tries to stay connected to his son after his divorce from Stacie (Jessica Biel). Until the moment, George starts coaching the kids soccer team is when Stacie is noticing him taking responsibility. He did not only get her attention, while many other divorced moms are attracted to George including Patti (Uma Thurman) who is married to Carl (Dennis Quaid).

Gerard Butler has potential as an actor and can do so much more with his roles unlike this movie that fails a proper development with on screen chemistry between him and Jessica Biel. The cast was decent especially Jessica Biel, Gerard Butler, and Catherine Zeta Jones.

Although, there performances was slacking with a lazy script. The terrible script had a certain character disappear in the beginning of the movie to only appear in the end that raises conflict which is kind of a cheap device to pull on a plot especially Dennis Quaids character which felt unnecessary.

The plot was a bit boring and unfunny which took forever to reach the ending. Gabriele Muccino is a talented filmmaker who provided worthy efforts movies like Seven Pounds and The Pursuit of Happynes.

However, Falling for Keeps is by far his weakest effort in a romance/comedy film. Overall, the movie was terrible and beyond a mess.