Director: Gabriele Muccino

Cast: Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Dennis Quaid and Judy Greer

Rating: 3/5

A heartwarming father-son union

Getting a lot of redundant attention from the mothers of novice young players was the core of Playing for Keeps. Gerard Butler cast as a former professional football player who coaches his son’s team fends off romantic assaults from a bevy of soccer moms.

George Dryer (Butler) who has donned the shirt of Scotland’s celebrated club Celtic FC among many others has retired from international football and moves to Virginia to try and reconcile with his son (Noah Lomax) and his ex-wife, Stacie (Jessica Biel), who is engaged to a new man.

The majority of retired professional footballers were known for their lavish and wealthy lifestyle but George finds himself short of money that he can’t even pay his rent. It’s never quite clear why George is in this tight spot.

While hoping to re-invent himself as a sportscaster, George gets into coaching his son’s team and discovers that he is developing a bond between them. The out of the blue benefit of his coaching role is that of the soccer mischievous moms that include Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Judy Greer who all finds him eye-catching to spice their lives. The 'in demand' coach doesn't quite have the grit to throw them out of his bed as it develops into a growing distraction to his primary goals.

Jessica Biel is less fortunate as her role is underwritten; she has no character aside from that of a concerned mother. Dennis Quaid delivers a flair performance as a swaggering community big shot, but his role is shortened abruptly. Catherine Zeta-Jones is fun to watch as she gives a bubbly performance as a hot mom who swings her connections with ESPN to charm George out of his pants. Uma Thurman is almost unused as she is barely seen. Most of the supporting cast in the film have way little to do.

In the recent Gerard Butler sport theme movie 'Chasing Maverick' is based on the life of surfer Jay Moriarity where he plays the local surfer legend and now in 'Playing for keeps'', he is a retired pro footballer. More or less the latter is enhanced and is one of the actor's most rounded and engaging performance and it would have been better if the script had allowed him to express more with emotions.

This film is a fine assertion for humour and romance. Eventually, it turns into a conventional feel good story of a family togetherness.