It’s almost a cliché, isn’t it, that an octogenarian in a romantic comedy is going to be horny?  The only question remains, given the scenario, which famous aging star is going be raising eyebrows.  In this case, we get not one, but three:  Liz Sheridan (Jerry’s mom in Seinfeld, here cast as Edna), Doris Roberts (of Moonlighting fame, here as Rose), and—wait for it—Andy Griffith as head horndog Joe.

The senior set is matched up against Rose and Joe’s grandkids, Julie and Dave, respectively.  Dave fancies himself a “player” whose sure-fire gift with the gals is guaranteed to, uh, jump-start a new love life for his two-years-gone widower grand-dad, now in residence at an active-lifestyle nursing home.  As Dave is putting his plans through their paces with his car-sales buddy James, though, he’s learning lessons about companionship from Joe—and stumbling across something new in the way of female quarry: Julie.

Julie, you see, seems immune to all of Dave’s wiles, and she gets under his skin.  At first, Dave just sees it all as a challenge to his skills; but soon he’s really hooked, and has to relearn everything he’s ever thought he’s known—about women, about love, about sex, about work… about life.

Joe, meanwhile, is learning from Dave about the more physical side of romance—that companionship is deep and satisfying, yes; but that an active sex life is pretty sweet, too.  And, well, let’s just say that Mayberry never featured scenes such as you’ll find here.  Yet they’re no more racy than anything you’ll find on primetime network TV these days, either.  It’s just very strange seeing and hearing “Andy Taylor” behave the way he does here.

First-time feature writer/director/producer Marc Fienberg helms the film in more than capable fashion, and brings in solid young TV performers for his leads.  As Julie, he cast Marla Sokoloff.  She’s been doing TV and feature films since 1993, and while I’m not familiar with her prior body of work, it’s probably safe to say she’s never been more appealing than she is here as Dave’s foil and worthy “opponent.”

Opposite Sokoloff, Fienberg cast Paul Campell as Dave.  If you watch a lot of TV, you’ll recognize him as Billy in Battlestar Galactica… or as Billy in Knight Rider!  Here, he’s convincing as a salesman who thinks a lot more of himself and his talents than he ought, as a grandson whose paternal relationship is strained while genuinely loving his father’s sire, and as a reformed lothario.  Or should that be “tamed stallion”?

But Fienberg is not just after a good extended TV episode with an SNL wink-wink, nudge-nudge sensibility.  No, watch closely, stick things through to the end, and you might be thinking you just watched the rom-com equivalent of an M. Night Shyamalan film.  This is clever, detailed, controlled filmmaking.  Fienberg knows what he’s doing behind both pen and camera.

One odd sidebar.  I screened this film as part of Spiritual Cinema Circle’s latest offering.  (It’s also available as a standalone DVD through the usual outlets, in addition to being the featured film this month at SCC.  Click here for a free trial of SCC’s service.)  Despite SCC’s aim to deliver “movies the whole family can enjoy,” their listing for Play the Game rightly carries a “content warning” that the film “contains adult elements (some sexual content and language).”  

Now, not only is that odd, and mildly out of keeping with past SCC offerings, I also failed to find anything here that’s particularly spiritual.  Yes, sex can be spiritual—but rarely with a wink and a nudge.

Play the Game is rated PG-13 for “sexual content and language.”  I think that’s appropriate… yet in no way does it approach the raunch of films like Norbit or even the sensuality of Avatar.

Courtesy of SCC, Greg screened a check disc that included Play the Game.  In the interest of full disclosure, we also note that PtP runs banner ads for SCC as we generally support the aims and products of SCC.