From "Hollywood Reporter" : "‘Players’ Review: Gina Rodriguez Takes Us Back to Rom-Com Basics in Netflix Charmer"

The star plays a New York sportswriter trying to turn a one-night stand into a serious relationship in a film co-starring Damon Wayans Jr.

Mack, the sly protagonist of Netflix’s endearing new rom-com Players, always closes. The 33-year-old journalist has a back pocket stuffed with plays that rarely fail. Want to convince the stranger at the bar that you can offer her the world? Or bag your next-door neighbor? Mack and her friends can walk you through the moves, honed over 12 years, to force an interaction.

The plays work well because Mack, Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.), Brannagan (Augustus Prew) and Ryan aka “Little” (Joel Courtney) are committed to research. Establishing a play requires a careful assessment of the target, the situation and the context. The plays can always help you land a steamy bar make-out, a one-night stand or maybe even a date. What they can’t do, Mack learns, is get you into a relationship.

Players, directed by Trish Sie, is the kind of romantic comedy that wears the conventions of its genre proudly. It’s not reaching for unique twists or spectacular splashes. It’s not trying to reinvent, reimagine or re-do anything about the pursuit of love. No, it’s trying to win you over with the basics: attractive leads with chemistry, a bit of triangular tension, a gallery of witty friends and a lesson tucked into a heartwarming story.

The film begins with Mack and her friends negotiating their next play. Brannagan wants to get a svelte blonde nursing a drink at the bar. She seems out of his league, which means the play must have exaggerations rooted in honesty. Tell too tall a tale and the jig is up. The secret to the plays is the process of seduction, of charming the target with your efforts. As the captain of the team, Mack takes the lead, establishing her role as a classic rom-com heroine: a bold, hyper-independent journalist who can diagnose everyone’s problems but her own.

Her friends, most of whom work at the local newspaper with her, have their own archetypes. Adam is Mack’s pal from college, the kind of person with whom intimacy is second nature. Brannagan, an obits reporter, enjoys the thrill of the chase so much his friends implore him to go to therapy. Little is Brannagan’s younger brother, the consummate sidekick and also seemingly unemployed. The crew have a candid and unforced rapport that brings to mind the dynamic between the roommates of New Girl (which Wayans also starred in). Whit Anderson’s screenplay isn’t heavy-handed, preferring to gesture at the depth of each relationship through inside jokes and sometimes cutting asides.

The power of the plays comes under threat when Mack meets Nick (Tom Ellis), an award-winning war correspondent with Egyptian cotton and matching cutlery. The pair sleep together after a work happy hour. When Nick takes Mack to her apartment, she falls in love with the sophistication of it all. A relationship with him would offer a sure pathway to adulthood, making her feel secure in a time of instability (looming layoffs at the newspaper where she’s employed).

The transition from playboy to girlfriend aspirations comes off abruptly, but the film smooths out once Mack enlists her friends to help. The process of researching Nick requires all hands on deck plus the addition of office manager Ashley (a scene-stealing Liza Koshy). They stage run-ins and encounters that nudge Nick into taking Mack on a real date.

Their plans work, but once Mack gets the guy, she realizes the relationship isn’t what she expected. Tucked into the gags and comedic drama of Players is a familiar lesson about reconciling the person you are with the person you think you should be. Mack’s character development is believable because of Rodriguez’s committed performance, which moves with ease between tears and laughter.

Players finds its heart, and its narrative anchor, in Mack’s connection to her friends and to her craft. Although the film, like most rom-coms, take liberties in portraying the mechanics of journalism, it leans into Mack’s writing to help us understand that Nick might not be Mr. Right. She courts the celebrated scribe while chipping away at her small but meaningful story about baseball fans and her parents. It’s through work on the latter that we not only come to understand Mack, but feel compelled to keep rooting for her.

Check out this extensive article from Collider.

https://collider.com/players-everything-we-know-so-far/

From "Brightshub" : "Players 2024 Movie Review"

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for its upcoming romantic comedy, “Players,” penned by Whit Anderson and helmed by Trish Sie, renowned for her work on “Pitch Perfect 3.” Set to hit screens on February 14, 2024, this eagerly awaited film follows Mack, a New York sportswriter, who finds herself unexpectedly falling for a man initially intended for a casual hookup “play.” Gina Rodriguez, famed for her role in “Jane the Virgin” and serving as one of the movie’s executive producers, takes on the lead role of Mack, opposite Tom Ellis of “Lucifer” fame, portraying the charming love interest, Nick.

The trailer introduces viewers to Mack and her friends, who have crafted a well-oiled scheme for one-night stands. However, their plans go awry when Mack develops genuine feelings for her fling. As Mack and her friends scramble to keep hold of “New York’s most eligible bachelor,” the stage is set for a series of comedic escapades.

The allure of “Players” extends beyond its captivating premise, boasting an ensemble cast featuring Daman Wayans Jr. of “New Girl” fame as Adam, Mack’s loyal best friend. Joining the lineup are Augustus Prew, Marin Hinkle, Joel Courtney, Liza Koshy, and Ego Nwodim, promising a dynamic and talented ensemble.

Director Trish Sie brings her expertise to the project, having previously dazzled audiences with her work on “Sitting in Bars with Cake.” With her knack for blending romance and comedy, Sie is poised to deliver a delightful cinematic experience.

As the film’s release coincides with Valentine’s Day, Netflix aims to capture the hearts of audiences seeking a romantic escape. Whether “Players” joins the ranks of Netflix’s beloved romance films remains to be seen, but with its stellar cast and promising premise, it’s primed to become a standout addition to the genre.

Joel Courtney and Mia Courtney on the red carpet at the 31st Annual Movieguide Awards Gala on Friday, February 9, 2024, at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Just Jared captured some amazing photos at the “Players” premiere.

Go check them out!

Thanks, Jared!

https://www.justjared.com/2024/02/09/gina-rodriguez-damon-wayans-jr-premiere-new-netflix-movie-players-in-l-a/