Playing for Keeps (2012)

A former sports star who's fallen on hard times starts coaching his son's soccer team as a way to get his life together. His attempts to become an adult are met with challenges from the attractive soccer moms who pursue him at every turn.

Director:

Gabriele Muccino

Writer:

Robbie Fox

Stars:

Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gerard Butler	...	George
Jessica Biel	...	Stacie
Noah Lomax	...	Lewis
Dennis Quaid	...	Carl
Uma Thurman	...	Patti
Catherine Zeta-Jones	...	Denise
James Tupper	...	Matt
Judy Greer	...	Barb
Abella Wyss	...	Ally
Grant Goodman	...	Billy
Grant Collins	...	Griffin
Aidan Potter	...	Hunter
Marlena Lerner	...	Samantha (as Marlena Rayne Lerner)
Iqbal Theba	...	Param
Sean O'Bryan	...	Assistant Coach Jacob

Storyline

George is a former professional soccer star who's moved to Virginia to be close to his ex-wife and son. He's broke, jobless, without a plan, and a constant source of disappointment to his son. When he takes over as his son's soccer coach, he has a new connection to the lad. He also gets the attention of three of the players' moms as well as the glad hand of a wealthy dad. His ex-wife's getting married, he has a lead on a sportscasting job, and he finds new ways to disappoint his son. Is there any way he can sort things out?

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Plot Keywords:

soccer | soccer team | soccer coach | soccer mom | coach | 

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Taglines:

This holiday season, what do you really want?

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual situations, language and a brief intense image

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Playing the Field

Filming Locations:

Millennium Studios- 300 Douglas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,750,288 (USA) (7 December 2012)

Gross:

$13,101,142 (USA) (15 February 2013)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Eclectic Pictures, Evil Twins (I), Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Italian censorship visa # 106908 delivered on 3-1-2013.

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Goofs

The Alfa Romeo that the star, Gerard Butler, drives has two different type of wheels on the car. In the beginning and the end, they are the same. In the middle the car has different wheels.

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Connections

Referenced in Chelsea Lately: Episode #7.43 (2013)

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Soundtracks

Synthesizers
Written by Jake Sinclair and Michael Trent
Performed by Butch Walker and the Black Widows
Courtesy of Dangerbird Records
By arrangement with Hidden Track Music

User Reviews

More Hallmark Made for TV movie than big screen production

Romantic comedy. Say it with me. Romantic comedy. Former star athlete, broken marriage, cute kid. Lots of sexual tension. I wanted to laugh at the many of what I thought were funny lines, but I wasn't feeling it from the rest of the audience. Although the movie was entertaining, there was something lacking in the script that made this all-star cast of Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman, Dennis Quaid and Judy Greer seem more satirical in their overstated roles. Jessica Biel was the stable force playing the the former wife of the soccer great. Gerard Butler was believable as the former star now struggling to find his spot in a second career after sports.

Overall I thought it was enjoyable. The movie did not drag and had some great feel good moments. However I thought I was watching a made for TV movie. The story was very predictable as are most of your romantic comedies.