Play the Game

Those who fondly remember Andy Griffith as Mayberry's family-friendly sheriff may be taken aback by his portrayal here of Grandpa Joe, a lonely Viagra-popping octogenarian who takes dating lessons from his womanizing grandson, along the way happily uttering raunchy lines, grinning salacious smiles, and doing suggestive double-takes as he becomes a sort of senior-citizen “player.” Designed to be the sort of slightly naughty, elbow-in-the-ribs farce that older audiences blushingly chortle over, Play the Game is instead borderline sleaze, with one particularly tasteless scene involving Joe's attempt to seduce a woman with Alzheimer's. While the film might have offered amusing if slightly off-color sitcom fun if it had employed a subtle touch, the presentation is so heavy-handed and tone-deaf that one can only sympathize with the actors, both old (Griffith, Doris Roberts, Liz Sheridan) and young, especially Paul Campbell as grandson Dave, a self-proclaimed lothario who instructs his grandfather in the art (but is, of course, outdone). Written and directed by Marc Fienberg without an ounce of style or panache, this is not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include deleted scenes (12 min.), outtakes (5 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a comic misfire.] (F. Swietek)