Soccer moms, paying rent, and a divorce are all problems that ex-soccer star George Dryer has to deal with in the movie “Playing For Keeps.” In this romantic comedy directed by Gabriele Muccino, Gerard Butler plays a former professional soccer player whose life has gone from taking luxurious vacations in Italy to struggling to pay rent.
After taking notice of his son’s awful soccer coach, he stepped in and started coaching his son’s team. However, the little kids aren’t the only ones taking notice of Dryer’s skills. The soccer moms are all over Dryer and taking every chance they get to talk to the single athlete- even though some of them have husbands.
It’s funny how hard some of the moms tried to get Dryer’s attention, but after a while, half the characters just ruined the movie. One mom acted like a desperate teenager with a pathetic sob story, another practically bribed Dryer for attention, and the third was 100% willing to cheat on her husband. The only thing more annoying than the thirsty soccer moms was his friend Carl, who was a snotty, rich businessman.
The trailer gave off the vibe that the movie was “touching” and “heartwarming,” but the only emotion my heart was feeling was sorrow. Everything was blamed on Dryer and all the problems in his life kept him running in circles. One minute he’s getting along with his ex-wife Stacie (Jessica Biel), and the next minute she’s angry at him. Nothing is fixed until the end, which was predictable.
Overall, the movie was cute at times, but it definitely did not deserve to be classified as a “romantic-comedy.” The film was all hype and a waste of time. Do yourself a favor, and spend an hour and 45 minutes of your life doing something other than watching this movie.
