MovieAddict's Movie Review of Playing for Keeps (2012)

“It’s the accent!”
MovieAddict - wrote on 05/02/13

Gerald Butler does a great job playing the a Scottish soccer player George who was a legend in his time loved by all struggling to put his life together both professionally and personally after retiring from the game. He decides to move to Virginia, the town where his ex-wife Stacie (Jessica Biel as a dowdy brunette) and 9 year old son Lewis (Noah Lomax) live with the intention of hooking up and spending quality time with his son and winning his ex-wife back who just so happens to have a new fiancé, Matt (James Tupper).

Despite aspiring to be a sportscaster of the local news affiliates, he winds up becoming the soccer coach to help his kid's team, after he notices the current coach is forever on his cell phone talking and advising the kids to kick the ball "with their toes." (really??)

This brings him into contact with the affluent and philandering Carl (Dennis Quaid), who gives George thousands of dollars and a Ferrari for seemingly no reason at all (well he does have a son on the soccer team) and the attractive but sexually frustrated soccer-moms which includes the rich but unloved Patti who also happens to be Carl’s wife (Uma Thurman), the needy Barb (Judy Greer) who cries at the sight of the big Scottish hunk and former sexy sportscaster turned domesticated mother Denise (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who offers to help George land a gig but at a sultry price of course…..she knows somebody who knows somebody.

Will George be able to keep these she-wolves at bay or will these irresistible ladies, prove to be just that….irresistible? Or will he be able to focus on his real goal, winning Stacie back? It is disappointing watch despite the big names on the cast but ladies, you do get to see fit Gerard topless so I give it one extra star for just that reason. Yummy….Yummy!

There is also a meaningless subplot about George's nosy landlord, Pramam, played by actor Iqbal Theba trying to collect his rent and mystified by the comings and goings of the ladies who wonder in and out of George’s house. “How do you get to meet so many hot women? – I have an accent too!”