''Play the Game'' is a 2009

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film starring

Andy Griffith Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his character ...

, Paul Campbell,

Liz Sheridan Elizabeth Ann Sheridan (April 10, 1929 – April 15, 2022) was an American actress. While best known for her roles as Jerry's mother, Helen, in ''Seinfeld'' and the nosy neighbor, Mrs. Ochmonek, on sitcom '' ALF'', her decades-long career was ex ...

Doris Roberts Doris May Roberts ( Green; November 4, 1925 – April 17, 2016) was an American actress whose career spanned seven decades of television and film. She received five Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild award during her acting career, which bega ...

, and Marla Sokoloff, written and directed by Marc Fienberg. This was Andy Griffith's last film credit; he died on July 3, 2012. The film received attention for containing a sex scene between Sheridan and Griffith.

Synopsis

''Play the Game'' tells the story of a young ladies' man, David, who teaches his lonely,

widow A widow (female) or widower (male) is a person whose spouse has died. Terminology The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed ''widowhood''. An archaic term for a widow is "relict," literally "someone left over". This word can s ...

grandfather Grandparents, individually known as grandmother and grandfather, are the parents of a person's father or mother – paternal or maternal. Every sexually-reproducing living organism who is not a genetic chimera has a maximum of four genetic gr ...

how to play the

dating Dating is a stage of romantic relationships in which two individuals engage in an activity together, most often with the intention of evaluating each other's suitability as a partner in a future intimate relationship. It falls into the categor ...

game, while playing his best games to win over Julie, the girl of his dreams. But as David's "foolproof" techniques prove to be anything but in his pursuit of Julie, the same techniques quickly transform Grandpa into the

Don Juan Don Juan (), also known as Don Giovanni (Italian), is a legendary, fictional Spanish libertine who devotes his life to seducing women. Famous versions of the story include a 17th-century play, '' El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra'' ...

of the retirement community. Slowly, the teacher becomes the student, and Grandpa must teach David how to win back the love of his life.

Cast

* Paul Campbell as David Mitchell *

as Grandpa Joe * Marla Sokoloff as Julie Larabee *

as Edna Gordon *

as Rose Sherman *

Clint Howard Clinton Engle Howard (born April 20, 1959) is an American actor. He is the second son born to American actors Rance and Jean Howard, and younger brother of actor and director Ron Howard. His 200-plus acting credits include feature films such as ...

as Dick *

Rance Howard Rance Howard (born Harold Engle Beckenholdt; November 17, 1928 – November 25, 2017) was an American actor who starred in film and on television. He was the father of actor and filmmaker Ron Howard and actor Clint Howard, and grandfather of act ...

as Mervin *

Geoffrey Owens Geoffrey Louis Owens (born March 18, 1961) is an American actor known for his role as Elvin Tibideaux on ''The Cosby Show'' (1985–1992). He is the son of United States Congressman Major Owens. Early life and education Owens was born in Brookl ...

as Rob *

Juliette Jeffers Juliette Jeffers is a Caribbean–American actress of St. Kitts and Nevis descent. Jeffers has appeared on several TV shows, films and TV commercials. Jeffers has also appeared in several theatre performances. including ''Batman and Robin in th ...

as Carri

Soundtrack

Beth Thornley – "Lie"

Jack's Mannequin Jack's Mannequin was an American rock band formed in 2004, hailing from Orange County, California. The band originally began as a solo project for Andrew McMahon, the frontman of Something Corporate. The band was signed to Maverick Records and ...

– "Dark Blue"
Ludo – "Hum Along"

Elizabeth & The Catapult Elizabeth & The Catapult is a Brooklyn-based project by the American singer-songwriter Elizabeth Ziman. She is best known for her 2009 album ''Taller Children,'' produced by Mike Mogis and Dan Molad and released on Verve Forecast. History Ziman, ...

– "Race You"
Ethan Gold – "Pretty Girls"

Barenaked Ladies Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian rock band formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario. The band developed a following in Canada, with their Barenaked Ladies (EP), self-titled 1991 cassette becoming the first independent release to be certified gold i ...

– "Sound of Your Voice"

Marching Band A marching band is a group of instrumental musicians who perform while marching, often for entertainment or competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Most marching bands wear a uniform, ofte ...

– "Gorgeous Behaviour"

Rocky Votolato Rocky Votolato (born March 8, 1977 in Dallas, Texas, United States), is an American singer-songwriter. Biography He was raised in Frost, Texas, roughly 50 miles south of Dallas, until the age of 13. After his parents were divorced, his moth ...

– "Your Darkest Eyes"

Emi Meyer Emi Meyer (born March 1987) is a Japanese-born, American-raised jazz pianist and singer-songwriter who is based in Seattle and Tokyo and active in both the Japanese and American markets. Background Meyer was born in Kyoto, Japan, but grew up in ...

– "One Good Song"

Sherwood Sherwood may refer to: Places Australia *Sherwood, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane * Sherwood, South Australia, a locality *Shire of Sherwood, a former local government area of Queensland * Electoral district of Sherwood, an electoral district fr ...

– "Best In Me"
Leroy Osbourne – "All I Want Is You"
Michael Rossback – "Don't Rush Me"
Chelsea Williams – "You Don't Wanna Know"
John Gold – "Cactus Flower"
Dan Ferrari – "Never Not Want You"

Katelyn Tarver Katelyn Tarver (born November 2, 1989) is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She has independently released four EP's since 2011, most notably ''Tired Eyes'' in 2017.

– "Wonderful Crazy"

Relient K Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio, by Matt Thiessen, Matt Hoopes, and Brian Pittman Board Message during the band members' third year in high school and their time at Malone University. The band is named afte ...

– "Must Have Done Something Right"
Ludo – "Laundry Girl"

References

External links

* * * {{rottentomatoes, play_the_game 2009 films 2009 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films