Playing for Keeps

Plot synopsis:
George Dryer (Gerard Butler) is a former professional Scottish soccer player who played for Celtic, Liverpool, D.C. United and the Scotland national team, and is largely seen as a "has been". His attempts to raise money by selling his former game memorabilia and become a sports announcer are largely met with ambivalence. George's relationship with his son Lewis (Noah Lomax) is equally unsuccessful due to his only seeing Lewis sporadically. When he discovers that his ex-wife Stacie (Jessica Biel) is getting married to her boyfriend Matt (James Tupper), George grows despondent.
After dropping off an audition tape of him practicing his sports announcements, George goes to help his son's soccer team practice. The team isn't very good, with the coach giving little attention to his players. The team's parents quickly pressure Stacie to ask George to become the new coach, which he reluctantly agrees to. Once coach, George attracts the attentions of various mothers and receives a bribe from Carl King (Dennis Quaid), who wants him to give his children preferential treatment. He specifically draws attention from the divorced Barb (Judy Greer), ex-sportscaster Denise (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and Carl's wife Patti (Uma Thurman). Denise appears to be particularly forward with George, sending him an e-mail telling him that she's thinking of him.
At practice the next day George is invited to a dinner party at Carl's house, is approached by Barb, and is also told by Denise that she has been given a copy of his audition tape to watch and pass along. At Carl's party George learns that Carl has been having affairs and that his wife is aware of his infidelities, unbeknownst to Carl. Carl then lends George a Ferrari under the implication that he "takes care of his friends", which George uses to drive to see Stacie. The two discuss what could have developed between the two of them, to which Stacie says that she doesn't wonder about the past anymore.
When he gets home, he discovers Barb waiting for him. She confesses that she's very lonely and has set up a dating profile in order to find a match. After asking him if he finds her attractive, the two sleep together. The following day George is called by Carl, who asks him to pick up some money from Patti in order to bail him out of jail, as he got into a fight at the party. Doing so makes him late to pick up his son, but he manages to entertain Lewis by letting him ride in his lap and drive the Ferrari. During this time George discovers that Lewis is sad that his mother is marrying Matt and that he won't call Matt "dad". George is then called by Denise, who informs him that ESPN is looking for a new soccer sportscaster and that he must come to the studio to record a tape. This enrages Stacie and Lewis due to his being late to pick up Lewis again, weakening his relationship with the both of them.
Arriving home, George is berated by his landlord Param (Iqbal Theba) for not paying his rent while driving a Ferrari and receives a call from Patti, telling him that she's in his bed. He soon finds that she's in the landlord's bed and George manages to distract the landlord by paying him with Carl's bribe money. Despite this, Patti continues to approach George sexually, who rebuffs her while saying that she should leave Carl rather than having an affair. His relationship with Lewis worsens when Denise kisses George the next day, leading Lewis to realize why his father was late. This spurs Lewis into having a fight during a game later on, prompting Lewis to tell his mother that he wants to quit playing soccer. George manages to later coax Lewis into playing soccer in the rain, which both of them finds fun. Meanwhile Stacie and George begin to reconnect romantically, which causes small rifts in her relationship with Matt.
George manages to earn the job with ESPN, but this necessitates his moving across the country to Connecticut. He asks Stacie to come with him. She initially refuses, but then he meets her at her car and she kisses him. At the game later that same day, George finds that Barb has begun to date his landlord and that Carl has discovered pictures of Patti in George's house from the time she came on to him. The two men begin to fight, which Stacie witnesses. Stacie sees the pictures, which upsets her despite George's claiming that it wasn't what it looked like. During the fight, Lewis's team wins the game.
After the game George leaves for his new job. In the end George chooses to stay with Lewis rather than moving to Connecticut. He also renews his relationship with Stacie, who has broken off her engagement with Matt, and becomes a local sportscaster in Virginia with his friend Chip.

Tags: prank

Review:
I loved PLAYING FOR KEEPS when it was released in '86; I went to see it three times, and bought the soundtrack at least twice on cassette (I kept wearing it out).
It was, at the very least, my introduction to Pete Townshend and, eventually, The Who. Last year I found the CD for a dollar in a cutout bin, and I'm shamelessly wallowing in it right now.
(I'm in full-tilt cheesy '80s soundtrack mode - I've already run through BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE, and I've got HIDING OUT ready to go.)Speaking of $1 finds, I recently came across a beat-up VHS tape of PLAYING FOR KEEPS, and since a DVD release seems unlikely ever to happen, is there any other way to revisit something I enjoyed in seventh grade?After watching the tape, I wondered how I could have found such an inane, simpleminded movie so appealing.
The best part is right at the top - the opening credits, with Townshend's spirited "Life to Life" starting things off.
Or, at least the beginning was joyful in another time; the credits are interspersed with images of New York City, including a tinted, fractured photo-negative of the World Trade Center.
The movie now, at least to me, starts off on a melancholy note, but the montage is fairly brief, and unrelated to the main story.Most of the movie is set in some generic, podunk New England burg, where it's Conservative Establishment vs.
I guess it goes without saying that this hotel turns out to be supremely gaudy and not the least bit cool; the production reeks of early MTV - it's replete with garish neon, acid wash denim, musical montages, and "Thriller"-era choreography, including break dancing.The credits are really the only part of PLAYING FOR KEEPS that doesn't make me gag now.
The movie itself is unrelentingly shoddy and drowning in clichés, occasionally surfacing for inept acting and astonishingly lamebrained dialogue.
(And the obligatory invocation of the movie's title couldn't have possibly been delivered with more agonizing ham-handedness.) No wonder that the cast, with one notable exception, continues to toil in obscurity.That exception is, of course, Marisa Tomei.
I doubt even her biggest fans are aware of this movie, for which she must be grateful.
PLAYING FOR KEEPS also the answer to a fine trivia question; how many people would know that this is the only directorial effort by Bob Weinstein?
I'd love to hear what co-writers & directors Bob and Harvey Weinstein have to say about this skeleton, and surely most of the cast could take some time off from their oh-so-busy schedules to record a separate cast track.Now that I've come clean about PLAYING FOR KEEPS, I should go ahead and disown other cinematic indiscretions from my youth.
I better start rumaging through the bargain bins for used VHS tapes of RAD and MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY to expunge any lingering fondness for those equally banal movies..
My brief review of the film.
The very first film from Miramax studios, it is directed by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the studio's two founding executives, and one can easily see the ambitions of young directors in the film.
It is rather stylishly made, experimenting with some different camera angels here and there, and it is accompanied by quite a fitting soundtrack of music that its directors were probably into.
The film also features Marisa Tomei in her first big role, and although she is not able to conjure up the charm that won her an Oscar seven years later, having her in the film is still somewhat of a delight.
The acting in general is actually sub-par, and the plot is awfully silly overall, but it is good-natured fun and often amusing to watch, plus it is interesting to see where Harvey Weinstein and Marisa Tomei began..
OK folks, if you LOVE 80's cheese, then this is the movie for you.
I love this movie primarily because my dad played Cromwell(the villain)in it, but beyond that, I just really enjoyed the silliness of it all and the fact that the film transports me to a different time in my life.
I was 14 years old when the movie was released, so I was really into all of that early MTV cheesiness.
The soundtrack was great and was truly one of the best things about the film (other than Dad, of course), but there were also scenes in the film that were very clever and funny.
I think that the direction could have been a lot better (sorry Miramax), as the young actors had the tendency to "chew the scenery" at times and needed their overacting to be reigned in a bit.
The bottom line is that the film is just good fun.
Forget about the improbable plot, the bad acting, and the terrible direction and just let the movie transport you to a different time in your life.
I've seen it hundreds of times over the years with friends who have wanted to see some films my dad has done.
Before I let anyone watch it, I always give the disclaimer that it is a super-cheesy 80's film and believe it or not, my dad is a Shakesperean-trained actor (he played Horatio in Richard Burton's Hamlet, among other roles), but everyone always ends up loving the movie because it's truly a piece of 80's nostalgia.
My dad will be the fist person to tell you that it's a horrible movie, so he always chuckles when someone tells him how much they loved it.
In my opinion, if you want to relive 1986, then this movie is a must-see.
Um, I do remember when this movie came out....
...in September 1986 when I was 13 and caught it on opening weekend - the only weekend it appeared at a theater - because it sucked so bad no one saw it besides me and some others that barely helped it crack that weekend's top 10 grossing film.
Just glancing at this IMDb page reminded me that it remains one of the WORST movies I've ever seen.
The trailer with the exploding toilet received heavy exposure on MTV, where I suppose the Weinstein brothers got a favor thrown their way for advertising this bomb of bombs, or the horrible acting and non-existent script.
Find "Fast Times At Ridgemont High," "The Breakfast Club," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Say Anything," "Heathers" or "The River's Edge" - just don't go near "Playing For Keeps.".
I rented this movie last week because I love 80's teen movies (License To Drive, Can't Buy Me Love, Don't Tell Her It's Me, etc.)  I read the reviews (which were pretty negative), but decided to give "Playing For Keeps" a chance anyway.
This movie is LOUSY!
I tried so hard to like it, but I couldn't.
Small Town Cheese, Corny But Kinda Fun. Well, I grew up and still live near in the town where this was filmed.
I saw part of this film on TV first.
It was pretty unnerving to flip the channel and see familiar streets and buildings being broadcast; like being in the Twilight Zone.The only reason I purchased this movie was because of where it was filmed.
The town has undergone some changes since the movie was made, so it's a nice nostalgic scrapbook of sorts.
The movie itself is cheesy, corny, and rather poorly done like most teen oriented films of the 80's, though it had a LOT of potential...
I must say, I'm quite surprised to see it out on DVD - wish I had known that before going to eBay and buying it on VHS!If you like cheese, small-town people made to look like dumb hicks, and teen power, then this is a must see.
Otherwise, if you're not from the area it was filmed, it's almost a waste of time.
Almost...it *is* pretty funny as long as you're not taking the movie seriously and considering it a drama like the little sticker on the box says.....
Not filmed in New England!.
After it had been closed for awhile it was used by the studio to make this movie.
The Honesdale High School senior class were in the movie in the graduation scene.
I've never seen it but would love to so I am trying to find a copy.
Sounds like a DVD version I will never see but luckily I still have a VHS player!
I was only 11 when it was filmed but remember the movie being filmed when I lived in Honesdale.
Never knew the stars in it or that it was Miramax's first film.
I'll have to let the rest of my friends know that..
The kids are beginning to fix up an old hotel.
Then the two guys sawing logs start to feel the music and get looks on their faces like "Oh yeah, I can dig that!" And then, and then, it happens....SPONTANEOUS CHOREOGRAPHED DANCING.
And to top it all off, the token old guy who is helping them tilts his body back and gives shrieks of ecstasy right in sync with the music!
And that is the movie as far as I'm concerned..
Better than average 80's Teen Movie....
When I first looked at the LaserDisc jacket, I thought this movie was going to be a bomb, but was instead pleasantly surprised.
Better than below average 80's Teen Adventures (like Kevin Bacon's often cheezy Quicksilver '86), this fun movie included a very young Marisa Tomei and super cute Mary B.
Hey, you guys are pretty harsh on my first movie!.
As a senior at a college in northeastern Pennsylvania, I accepted the opportunity to be an "extra" in a movie being shot in Honesdale, PA.
Well, guess which movie it was - you got it - "Playing for Keeps"!
I don't think I've told anyone I was ever in it (except my wife) as I'm sure I don't want them seeing it!
We spent the day there - mostly outside in the cold, and shot 1 scene - the final scene where the guy comes back from jail - for the night.
(And the lunch that was promised!) Was a fun experience - haven't seen it in years - guess I've gotta get a copy!
Actually don't remember seeing Marisa, but do remember hanging around with some of the other cast members during the unbelievably long down-time.
This movie could only be interesting to someone who is conducting an anthropological study of 1980s pop culture.
Bad hair, bad soundtrack, bad lipstick, gratuitous shots of women's legs, bad over-acting, ludicrously tight pants, bad plot.
but you gotta love that great song by Sister Sledge, "Here To Stay" as the plucky teens fix up the house.
I bought the soundtrack for that one song.I remember all the MTV spotlights on this movie, all the cheesy videos put out in an effort to promote it, along with "Fire With Fire" and "American Anthem."  Great nostalgia for an 80s fan, but man does it stink..
This film absolutely rocked my world when i first saw it when i was about 6 years old in 1989!!
Yeah it is cheesy and some of the acting is a bit....trashy but the feel good factor is the key!!
I have forced loads of my friends to watch it and despite initial hesitations....they ALL felt the love for Danny, Spike and Silk!!
Can't remember it first coming out, i never even knew it was that big (was it??) but...god damn its a funky party!!
Yeah make a wish....and then make it come true!!!
I think its time for a re-make of the great film...it would be damn hot...how can you question that storyline...timeless!!
Give it a watch if you are capable of thinking that all good films have to be Matrix styley and I bet you will 'feel the heat'!!!.
Let me get this straight, we got the Weinstein brothers themselves, they are the writers and directors of this damnation of a film.
Well, I'd like to share that with you, if they had ANYTHING to bring to the table.
Can I say, this movie sucks.
If you're new to the world, not all 80's teen comedies sucked like this one.
Shame on these boys for not coming up with something better.
A girl goes topless, because of some bizarre problem that she says she has, and it just sounds to me like it's an excuse to get a girl topless in a movie to me.
You guys need to quit, you are giving my gender a bad name.
And speaking of bad name, I can't figure out why the heck this movie is called Playing For Keeps.
Sorry, I'm not giving this movie any more then 3 stars..
This movie is very similar to the 1980 film Xanadu.
A lot of IMDB users may not like that film either, but at least Xanadu had the beautiful Olivia Newton-John and a great soundtrack.
This film has about 10 minutes of the cute Marisa Tomei and 1 decent soundtrack song (Say the Word by Arcadia).
I wanted this movie to end so badly, yet it was like watching a car accident.
This movie is no `Xanadu`..
This movie is no `Xanadu`..
excellent movie.
i cant believe all the negative reviews about this movie this movie is the bomb i first discovered this movie back in 1995 on the encore channel and since then i been a fan how can you not like it the acting is kind of silly but its great i love the songs and it teaches you how to succeed not fell and Marisa tomei is not the main character Daniel jordano is the star Marisa is just a supporting actor and i heard that this is the first very first film from the Weinstein's good job so if people want to see where Marisa tomei started its right here its a sad movie to me anyways i wonder how the other casts are doing the soundtrack is awesome i like the part when the inspector come by and gets hit by the latter i don't care how many bad remarks this movie gets its my favorite..
Come on its great 80s fun.
Teens dressing up as boy-scouts to earn money, convincing friends to help with a dream.
The smartest little sister on the screen I just cant help but Love the game they play.
Try it if your in the mood for something silly and fun.
Hey,Its a Weinstein (think Scream, Emma, Addicted to Love and Kate and Leopold) film one of the firsts.
You get to see young actors trying to make their way (Marisa Tomei is in it way before she got famous or won an award.) and some older ones (Harold Gould) helping them out.
Now I certainly hope that is enough of a reason to try this film.
Hey if nothing else, you get watch Eighties Hair and listen to some good eighties music..
I'm surprised to see so many negative reactions to this film.
As a regular junkie for obscure 80s comedies, I kind of liked it.
I mean, the underdog story was quite far-fetched and there were several elements to make it laughable (the music video-like sequences scattered through the more motivational sequences in the film), but it is it really deserving of such poor ratings?
Actually, this is the kind of film that an obscure 80s comedy/drama fan might only appreciate (it is probably destined for cult status anyways, even if the following for such is extremely small) because you have to expect (and forgive) a lot of campy cheesiness.
Afterall, that's the natural byproduct of the underdog genre.This is the story of an optimistic, and idealistic, teen from NYC.
Among the three friends who are primarily the main protagonists of this film (along with Harold Gould as Rockerfella and Marisa Tomei as one of the girlfriends), he is the dreamer with plenty of ideas for greatness.
Opportunity comes a-knockin' this time in the form of a deed to an upstate hotel inherited from an Aunt, along with eight thousand dollars worth of debt.
Despite urgings from his mother not to bother with it, he and his friends plan to fix it up and turn it into a youth hotel, The Hotel Majestic.This, of course, is much to the chagrin of the small town's high profile investor, who, in cahoots with another sleazy businessman, intend to get their hands on that hotel any way they can.
And when the teens refuse to sell it to him, he turns the whole town of middle-age and senior ogres against them.
Being the underdog genre, you have to know that these kids (and their friend, Rockerfella) aren't going down without a fight.
Like I said, you have to expect quite a bit of cheesiness.
But the film has it moments of sly city humor (I particularly like Jimmy Biao's character, Stienberg) and other elements that may make it worth watching.
I actually started watching it with the impression that it was going to be terrible (I had bought it at a video store where I usually have zip luck with the selections).
Certainly, fans of obscure 80s films ought to give it a try..
finding obscure movies in the bargain bin is a continuing habit of mine.
i had no expectations of liking this as i put it in my DVD player.was i surprised.this deserves more than obscurity, for sure.
it has all the great elements of 80's cheese.
three friends that are so different you wonder how they'd ever hang out together in the first place.
the main characters little sister delivers dialogue as if she's wise beyond her years.
obligatory 80's topless scene(sorry, it's not marisa tomei).and they win in the end (big surprise for a teen underdog flick,eh?).add on the above-par 80's pop soundtrack and VOILA!
watch this as a double feature with FOOTLOOSE or BILL AND TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE and let your brain rest for a few hours.oh yeah, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS!!!