PLAYING IT COOL
US, 2014, 94 minutes, Colour.
Chris Evans, Michele Monaghan, Topher Grace, Aubrey Plaza, Luke Wilson, Martin Starr, Anthony Mackie, Ioan Gruffud, Philip Baker Hall, Patrick Warburton.
Directed by Justin Reardon.
Playing it Cool is a slight romantic comedy starring Chris Evans at the time he was being Captain America on screen. He is a screenwriter, working with his agent, Anthony Mackie (who also appeared in the Captain America films). Evans wants to write an action film but his agent says the studios want a comedy. The plot involving him, his group of writer friends who have plenty of advice for him, is obviously the romantic comedy that he has to write.
He goes to a fundraiser and sees the girl of extremes, Michelle Monaghan. With the help of his gay friend, Topher Grace (who has a thing for James Cameron films and thinks The Terminator is more romantic than Titanic), he goes to every charity function until he finds the girl of his dreams. He has posed as a great benefactor of charities but it is unmasked – but, of course, he is really in love, and she forgives him.
1. A romantic comedy about a romantic comedy?
2. The San Francisco settings, homes and apartments, restaurants, charity functions, the water and the beach? Atmosphere? The musical score?
3. The screenwriter and his story, voice-over, his dark black-suited and hat alter ego? His creativity, writer’s block, wanting to do an action film, his agent persuading him to do a romantic comedy, his questions about the nature of romance, his imagining different situations, memories of women rejecting him, the discovery of the ideal woman, her presence in his imagination?
4. His background, love for his mother, her note and leaving him, being brought up by his grandfather, his grandfather’s sardonic remarks, urging him to venture out?
5. Meeting Scott, chasing him, Scott leaving behind his favourite book, Love in the time of Cholera, apprehensive, becoming a friend of the writer, the discussions about the romantic nature of Titanic and The Terminator? His friendship with the writer, accompanying him to the charity events, his comments with the other friends?
6. The friends in the group, the introduction, the explanations, their writing, their meetings, discussions, drink, helping the writer, their own personalities, especially Mallory and her hard line, her improvisations, concerts and performances, sexual references? The continued challenge to the writer?
7. The writer and his lack of confidence in himself, saying the wrong thing, his alter ego advising him? The chance encounter with the girl, at the charity, his talking to Scott at the toilet door, invective against women, her hearing him? The conversation, her boyfriend? Her charm?
8. His grandfather urging him to find her, googling, going to all the charities, the charity executive and his inventing all the stories, the executive praising him, at the dinner, his being exposed as a fake? The experience of all the socials?
9. Suddenly finding the girl, her job, organising charities? The impact?
10. His approaches, putting his foot in it, her responses, going for walks, going out, to the art show as a friend date? The night together? Her seeing him as a fake, his disappointment? Her getting married, the ceremony, his chase with the taxi, to all the venues, finding her, not married?
11. Declarations of love, authentic love, the happy ending?
