La partita dell'amore

Not having high expectation for a film that literally had no p & A so that people would even know that it's in theaters, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. I wanted this film to be good because I know that the writer/director worked for about nine years to get this film made.

It was a great idea. However, it was very poorly executed. About a third of the way into the film, I got settled in, ready to enjoy this film. Suddenly, the story line stopped as they cut to another Andy scene, and then started again. Stopped again, and then started.

We were all rooting for our protagonist to get her girl but every time we were hooked on wanting Campbell to find his girl, it diverted our attention back to the other story. It went right back to Andy doing and/or saying the same thing he said in a previous scene. By the time we were half way through the film; I looked around and could tell that the audience was getting restless. We talked with a group of viewers after the show and they all had the same comment. What this film needed most was a great editor!! And for all the money that they put into getting this film in the theaters, they could have taken that money, gone a distributor and made a deal to use that money for the p & a. At least that's what I would have done. Nice try, but no cigar.

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.

What a treat! My wife and I turned this on for something that works have a hallmark feel and got way more than we bargained for. It has a fun message and and great classic cast that carry the younger actors and the movie. The scene and lines that follow the viagra are priceless. Absolutely priceless! Please Check this move out. You will not be disappointed. I promise!

What a treat! My wife and I turned this on for something that works have a hallmark feel and got way more than we bargained for. It has a fun message and and great classic cast that carry the younger actors and the movie. The scene and lines that follow the viagra are priceless. Absolutely priceless! Please Check this move out. You will not be disappointed. I promise!

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.