This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

A man once "on the top of his game" is now at the bottom, no home, no money, no son, no honey. He gets himself into becoming a kids' soccer coach and thus an object of pursuit for all the soccer moms - and those are some very hot soccer moms. So, you have the makings of a good comedy.But, it doesn't work. There are a few good jokes and few more OK ones, but, way too little. It's too naïve and predictable. We also don't see what's so special about Jessica Biel or her relationship with our protagonist. Sure, she's his baby-momma, but, hey, that's far from being enough for his relentless pursuit of her, nor her willingness to throw out a good engagement for a potential "second chance".Also, the whole romantic plot, bad as it is, takes over the comedy at some point, about the time that the comedy was picking up steam.About the only reason to watch this movie is if you're in a similar situation as our protagonist and want to see something that is trying to say "everything will turn out OK", without a thing to back up that claim.

Since just before the turn of the 21st century, Hollywood began turning out a number of movies about broken marriages and families being restored. Often times, they have a syrupy appeal that doesn't seem quite real. Aside from the comic book and animated sci-fi or action films, the "reform or conversion" stories seem to be one of the most common put on film so far – well into the next century. They seem to be a genre all their own. Well, "Playing for Keeps" was a 2012 rendition of such a film. But this one assembled an impressive cast of name characters. Some of the acting is overboard, but much of it is OK to good. The problem is with the story and screenplay. The comedy (a real stretch of the word in this film) is provided mostly by the lusting women who make up Hollywood's gratuitous scenarios for sex. Although very little explicit is shown, what there is burdens the film. One wonders why "soccer moms" or single moms don't rail against such stereotyping of women as this in the movies. Anyway, that's enough of a distraction to dampen the rest of the movie and the main plot. Dynamite acting might have saved it, but minus that the film comes across mostly as a lame attempt at a feel-good film. I give it five stars mostly for the good performance by child actor Noah Lomax as Lewis. Dennis Quaid's character, Carl, is something different for him, and not bad. Most of the rest are just so-so.

That's the beginning of the "german" title for the movie by the way. I changed the end into Geralds name, because for some it might have been a spoiler. But it is apparent where this movie is heading. It's the old story of a guy not knowing where he is heading (though the viewer knows exactly what he wants in the end).But Kudos for not being completely coy. There are scenes in here that I didn't expect to happen ("normal" romantic comedies would've not done that I'd say). But fear not, this is not explicit in any kind of way in its depiction of relationships or the consuming of one. There are a bunch of good actors involved in this and you can have a good time, if you let yourself

Fellas, this is one that you would obviously watch with the cheese and kisses (misses). Or if you are a big fan of Gerard Butler and chick-flicks, this is also for you (guilty). Playing for keeps follows a former soccer star who has fallen on hard times and starts to coach his son's soccer team as a way to get his life back on track. Of course though, being Gerard Butler has its challenges. He gets swamped by advances by all of the attractive soccer mums, while trying to mend his relationship with his ex-wife played by Jessica Biel. For what it is, it's entertaining enough with some funny moments along the way. The cast is actually quite large with Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer as the soccer mums and Dennis Quaid who is pretty funny as Uma Thurman's cheating husband and powerful business man, who tries to befriend Butler. It is also directed by Gabriele Muccino who has had plenty of success with 'The Pursuit of Happiness' and 'Seven Pounds'. This movie feels similar to the Will Ferrell comedy, 'Kicking & Screaming', where he also plays a little league soccer coach, but Playing for Keeps has less comedy and way more romance. Still, if you enjoyed Butlers previous comedies like 'The Bounty Hunter' and 'The Ugly Truth', then you should also enjoy this.My Rating: 6/10For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews