Too much of everything

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Marc Fienberg's 'Play the Game' has an original concept and it's even funny in places but for me the biggest problem was the pacing. The film really drags in places especially in some of Paul Campbell's scenes (not to blame the actor) and feels repetitive (scenes with Andy Griffith). It is quite charming in places but good editing was desperately required. Andy Griffith and Liz Sheridan are hilarious. Doris Roberts has her funny moments too. Marla Sokoloff is vivacious and Paul Campbell does a decent enough job. Some of the dialogues are funny enough but, as mentioned earlier, tend to be repetitive and sometimes borders on cliché. There's a fun interesting twist at the end but due to the slowness of the film, it's intended effect may be lost. Fienberg's effort is appreciated. It's a good concept, with good acting but this is an example of how lack of proper editing can inhibit ones appreciation of what could be an otherwise fun movie.

While very predictable, and done in a formulaic manner, (i.e. boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl), I thought this was a very enjoyable movie overall. You can read the story lines in other reviews, but I was impressed that this film tackled real life issues of generation gaps and similarities, the overall search by all humanity to love and be loved, and even the more difficult issues of senior sexual relationships, in a very forthright and truthful way. Andy Griffith was spectacular in his role as Grandpa Joe, and all actors were competent in their parts. This is a good old fashioned feel good movie. It reminded me of something my grandmother once said to me, when I was 21 and she was 83. She said, "you kids aren't doing anything that hasn't been done for ages". This movie brings that concept together beautifully! Sit back and enjoy the ride.

By 'all' I mean me, hubby and our 23 year old son. There were some cute scenes though, like the grandson and his love interest in the Laundromat, and a few good lessons learned. And Andy Griffeth was wonderful as always, as was Doris Roberts. Now onto some of the problems...I thought the grandfather's character was a rather sleazy role, not worthy of Griffeth. Not only that but it was unbelievable, and perhaps demeaning to older folk. Two octogenarians calling a movie a 'talkie'? My parents used that as a joke, but of course neither they or the older characters in this movie would even have been part of the silent movie era. Just an example. My son also kept looking at the protagonist and saying 'no one likes you!'. ;) He thought Griffeth carried a bad plot though, but I think the premise could have worked, if they could have toned down the sleaze a bit. Sorry, I'm an old fashioned gal. Definitely not Christian values though, despite what some of the characters may learn in the movie. But back to the younger generation. When they make a main character too unlikable, it's hard for us to even want him to 'get the girl'. We really wanted to see if Griffeth 'got his girl' though--you can't make Griffeth unlikable, really--so we skipped a bunch of the movie and tuned in at the end. The general consensus was that we should have done that sooner.

As a guest of FilmMetro.com I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing this movie on 8-25-2009. Here is Phoenix this film will open on Friday the 28th. As Grandpa Joe, Andy Griffith is just wonderful and plays the 84 year old in a role he was born to play. Mr. Griffith played a character known as Old Joe in Waitress a few years back and was very good in that role but even better here as a retirement home widower learning how to pick up women from his grandson, a "player" car salesman with all the right moves. This film is a comedy gem that keeps delivering the laughs from start to finish. Hard to believe Grandpa Joe is getting more action than his grandson. I highly recommend this for all ages. Lots of comedy, lots of laughs and just the right amount of love and romance with a cute twist at the end.