Here's an AARP-friendly romantic comedy about a "playa" who tries to teach his grandpa how to Play the Game, while grandpa tries to teach sonny boy about true love and companionship.
The novelty here is that Gramps is the great Andy Griffith, and the ladies he tries to work his magic on are Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Liz Sheridan (Seinfeld). But Marc Fienberg has written and directed a 75-minute movie that he spread over a 103-minute film. Speed would have covered a multitude of sins.
Paul Campbell, sort of a younger Ryan Reynolds, is David, the slick, people-reading super salesman at his dad's (Clint Howard) car dealership. He runs through his "steps," first to his work pal (Geoffrey Owens of The Cosby Show), then to Grandpa Joe, whom he promised his late grandmother he'd teach how to date again.
"Step 1: Reconaissance.. .. . Step 2: You have to meet her, or rather, have her meet you."
Grandpa isn't crazy about it, but if it'll make him "a real chick maggot" he's game.
"That's chick magnet."
"Oh, that would make more sense."
Meanwhile, David has met somebody who might fit grandpa's definition of true love -- Julie (Marla Sokoloff). But try as he might he can't run his game plan on her. She's got his number.
Play the Game takes an interminable hour to get going. Every scene, every line reading, plays slow. There's no snap to it.
Then, in parallel scenes, Joe meets ViagraÖ (and a randy Sheridan) and David "runs out of gas" with Julie, and the movie pops into gear.
It's a smidge naughty and plenty sweet. Griffith hams it up, and Sokoloff makes a dreamy romantic "goal" for her bland leading man. But this Game feels more like practice. Every play's run at half speed.
The novelty here is that Gramps is the great Andy Griffith, and the ladies he tries to work his magic on are Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Liz Sheridan (Seinfeld). But Marc Fienberg has written and directed a 75-minute movie that he spread over a 103-minute film. Speed would have covered a multitude of sins.
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Play the Game
Cast: Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith, Doris Roberts, Liz Sheridan, Marla Sokoloff.
Director: Marc Fienberg.
Running time: 1 hour, 43 minutes.
Industry rating: PG-13 for sexual content and language. -
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Movie Reviews
"Step 1: Reconaissance.. .. . Step 2: You have to meet her, or rather, have her meet you."
Grandpa isn't crazy about it, but if it'll make him "a real chick maggot" he's game.
"That's chick magnet."
"Oh, that would make more sense."
Meanwhile, David has met somebody who might fit grandpa's definition of true love -- Julie (Marla Sokoloff). But try as he might he can't run his game plan on her. She's got his number.
Play the Game takes an interminable hour to get going. Every scene, every line reading, plays slow. There's no snap to it.
Then, in parallel scenes, Joe meets ViagraÖ (and a randy Sheridan) and David "runs out of gas" with Julie, and the movie pops into gear.
It's a smidge naughty and plenty sweet. Griffith hams it up, and Sokoloff makes a dreamy romantic "goal" for her bland leading man. But this Game feels more like practice. Every play's run at half speed.
