Playing for Keeps (2012)
Remember Gerard Butler, the hunky heartthrob of the early 2000s? Well, at the tail end of his career, he made a film about a has-been who gets a second chance to figure out what really matters. The lessons he learns are a bit corny, and most of the side characters are pretty one-dimensional, but Gerard’s hair is cute and curly and he does have his signature shirtless scene, so it’s not all bad.
He’s a former soccer star who tries to reconnect with his son, Noah Lomax, and his ex-wife, Jessica Biel. I’m not sure if the audience is supposed to think he’s a bad dad or if that part of the film is supposed to be heartwarming in an “Aw, he doesn’t know what he’s doing and neither do I” kind of way, but my thoughts belonged in the former category. Meanwhile, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman, and Judy Greer all develop crushes on the new dad in town. Dennis Quaid adds extra star power to the cast, playing Uma’s clueless husband who just thinks of Gerard as a pal. Like his character, nobody else is written to be particularly likable or compelling. Jessica Biel’s character is the only one with a backbone, but as soon as Gerard starts working his charms, she turns into jelly just like everyone else. I guess the lesson of the film is if you have beautiful hair, a charming accent, and a signature shirtless scene, you can get away with anything. But, fans who remember him in all his former glory will probably end up sitting through this “feel good flick”. I did.
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!
He’s a former soccer star who tries to reconnect with his son, Noah Lomax, and his ex-wife, Jessica Biel. I’m not sure if the audience is supposed to think he’s a bad dad or if that part of the film is supposed to be heartwarming in an “Aw, he doesn’t know what he’s doing and neither do I” kind of way, but my thoughts belonged in the former category. Meanwhile, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman, and Judy Greer all develop crushes on the new dad in town. Dennis Quaid adds extra star power to the cast, playing Uma’s clueless husband who just thinks of Gerard as a pal. Like his character, nobody else is written to be particularly likable or compelling. Jessica Biel’s character is the only one with a backbone, but as soon as Gerard starts working his charms, she turns into jelly just like everyone else. I guess the lesson of the film is if you have beautiful hair, a charming accent, and a signature shirtless scene, you can get away with anything. But, fans who remember him in all his former glory will probably end up sitting through this “feel good flick”. I did.
More Catherine Zeta-Jones movies here!