‘Play the Game’ * 1/2
Just like a kiddie flick that talks down to children while boring the parents in tow, the comedy “Play the Game” — about the twin romantic complications of retirement home widower Joe (Andy Griffith) and his ladies’ man grandson David (Paul Campbell) — panders to elderly moviegoers, while being unlikely to engage date-movie lovers of any age.
As brightly lit as a bad sitcom, writer-director Marc Fienberg’s effort clumsily merges a handsome rake’s progress — cynical car salesman David’s backfiring campaign to attract smart (but bland) Julie (Marla Sokoloff) — with a lost “Love American Style” episode about senior trysting. The youngsters’ half is mostly blase and cliche about wooing gambits (running out of gasoline, really?) but there’s something disconcerting about Griffith — enjoying a career upswing after “Waitress” — reduced to playing an old man written like a naive child.
What octogenarian of sound mind hasn’t heard of Viagra or oral sex? But also, who wants to see a sturdy hand at plain-spoken comedy such as Griffith act out scenes — and, er, moments — involving these two overused tropes of movie raunch? Veering between syrupy sweet and awkwardly dirty, “Play the Game” is a woefully scoreless exercise.
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MPAA rating: PG-13 (for sexual content and language)
Running time: 1:45
Starring: Andy Griffith (Grandpa Joe); Paul Campbell (David); Liz Sheridan (Edna); Doris Roberts (Edna)
A Story Films release. Written, directed and produced by Marc Fienberg. Co-produced by Jennifer Schaefer.
