Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- self deprecating
- wistful
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as an unconvincing and formulaic romantic comedy with limited payoff.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The protagonist is a screenwriter struggling to produce a romantic movie while his own experiences challenge romantic formulas.
The narrator’s mother abandoned him during childhood, contributing directly to his jaded attitude toward love and his habit of sabotaging relationships.
The woman who captures the screenwriter’s heart is already engaged, restricting their relationship to friendship despite his feelings.
The screenwriter turns to Scott, Mallory, Samson, and Lyle for experiences that might help him complete his script and understand relationships.
Films like Playing It Cool, and why
500 Days of Summer
shares a self-aware romantic comedy framework, cynical protagonist, and emotionally guarded approach to relationships
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
combines romantic frustration, friendship, and witty metropolitan relationship comedy with an emotionally wounded central character
Friends with Benefits
features an ensemble of friends, commitment complications, and a breezy but sentimental contemporary romance tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Justin Reardon
- Release Date
- 2014-09-26
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 5.9 / 10 (823)
Cast
- Chris Evans
- Michelle Monaghan
- Topher Grace
- Aubrey Plaza
- Luke Wilson
- Martin Starr
- Anthony Mackie
- Ioan Gruffudd
- Philip Baker Hall
- Patrick Warburton
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Playing It Cool about?
- A jaded Los Angeles screenwriter mines his friends’ love lives for a romantic screenplay, only to fall for an engaged woman who challenges his defenses.
- What is Playing It Cool like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Playing It Cool as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Playing It Cool violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Playing It Cool.
- What did critics think of Playing It Cool?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as an unconvincing and formulaic romantic comedy with limited payoff.
- Which films are like Playing It Cool?
- Films with a similar feel include 500 Days of Summer, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Friends with Benefits.
- How long is Playing It Cool?
- Playing It Cool runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch Playing It Cool?
- In United States, Playing It Cool is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Fandango At Home.
