Playing for Keeps

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Playing for Keeps Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Ho-hum sports romcom lacks both laughs and chemistry.

PG-13 2012 106 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Playing for Keeps is a romantic comedy about a faded former soccer star (Gerard Butler) who ends up coaching a youth soccer team in an effort to reconcile with his 9-year-old son after years of being an absentee dad. There are several scenes with people drinking (and sometimes getting a bit tipsy) and a moderate amount of swearing (including "s--t"). Some of the soccer moms pursue George quite aggressively and are anything but subtle about their intentions -- up to and including one who sneaks into his bedroom and strips down to her underwear while waiting for him to come home. Expect some kissing and the implication of a sexual hook-up, but nothing graphic is shown on-screen. While the movie has worthwhile themes about the importance of teamwork, parenting, and responsibility, women are mostly portrayed as needy and manipulative, which undercuts the positive take-away.

Community Reviews

blahtomotoesblah
blahtomotoesblah Adult
August 29, 2013
age 18+

Not for keeps

This movie is a nonsensical, non-family oriented piece of trash that belongs in the garbage can. It has nothing to do with soccer but more to do with nasty adulterous males and females who are desperate for anything except a good family life

This title has:

Too much sex
lovemykiddos
lovemykiddos Adult
December 10, 2012
age 18+

Don't waste your money!

In all honesty, I went to see this movie because I love Gerard Butler. However, the movie deals with a divorced family who actually ends up (SPOILER) getting back together. I don't believe it was a movie made for kids. There were huge, beautiful homes, fancy cars, money being tossed around like no tomorrow. The father/coach in the movie (Gerard Butler) has soccer moms throwing themselves at him, and perhaps the worst part was that infidelity seemed almost "ok". One of the married mothers shows up on his bed wearing a bra and panties. I was more shocked to find out that my kids saw the movie the day before I did with their dad (although he knows my daughter loves soccer and probably thought it'd be a good soccer movie). Neither of my kids, ages 13 and 10, enjoyed the movie. Both thought it was inappropriate, in fact my 13 year old boy actually said he thought it should have been rated R.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

George (Gerard Butler) was once an international soccer star, but in PLAYING FOR KEEPS, he's barely getting by and is relocating to suburban Virginia to rekindle his relationship with his 9-year-old son, Lewis (Noah Lomax). George ends up coaching Lewis' soccer team and quickly catches the eye of a few romance-starved soccer moms (Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Judy Greer). They pursue him aggressively (and he doesn't always fight them off), but he soon realizes that he still has feelings for Lewis's mom, Stacie (Jessica Biel) -- but she's moved on with her life and is about to get married.

Is It Any Good?

A movie should have personality; otherwise, why call it entertainment? Some of the worst ones can at least find comfort in having a point of view. But to be, well, "meh?" Why bother? Playing for Keeps is about as formulaic as a romantic comedy can get, and goes light on both the laughs and spark. Thurman, Zeta-Jones, and Greer give it the old college try, but the story doesn't require them to do much more than look Butler up and down and then wait for a chance to pounce. Biel has a little bit more to work with, and her efforts are deeply felt, but it's almost a shame because it creates dissonance from the rest of this ho-hum film.

There's no momentum, no surprises, no energy. It's not awful, but it's not terribly good, either. It's just there. Since there's little here that's refreshing -- aside from Lomax's work as Lewis -- it's not hard to guess how things will turn out between George and Stacie. But it's not easy to see why we should sit in the audience, either.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Playing for Keeps portrays George as a dad. What do you think of his parenting? What does he learn during the film? How does he compare to other movie/TV dads?

  • How does the movie depict the women in George's life? Is it fair/accurate? What about the men?

  • Why do you think George and Stacie originally broke up? Should they get back together?

Movie Details

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