The Stream: Very predictable and lacking in laughs.

The Big Screen: Liza Koshy is a scene stealer

The Final Bill: A lame premise for a romantic comedy begets a lame and predictable movie.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Trish Sie
Writers: Whit Anderson
Stars: Gina Rodriguez, Damon Wayans Jr., Tom Ellis,
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Production Companies: Campfire, I Can & I Will Productions, Marc Platt Productions
Platform: Released on Netflix on February 14, 2024

What’s up, Streamers! If you are still in the Valentine’s mood, Netflix released a new romantic comedy this week that they hope will warm your heart and tickle your funny bone. Players stars Gina Rodriguez as a local sportswriter, Mack, who, along with her best friend, Adam (Damon Wayans, Jr.) and their cohorts, comes up with elaborate “plays” to successfully hook up with their various objects of desire. When renown Pulitzer Prize finalist and war correspondent, Nick (Tom Ellis), comes into their newsroom, Mack runs a play on him to get a one-night stand until she realizes maybe she wants more of a relationship with Nick. Mack enlists her friends to develop a play that will get her a relationship with Nick rather than just a quick hook up. Romantic scheming and sports-related hijinks ensue.

Unfortunately, most romantic comedies are formulaic. You usually can tell exactly what will happen throughout the movie from the very beginning. Players is no different. The problem here is that the premise is lame and the movie overall is not funny. Mack is trying to trick a guy she doesn’t know into liking her while her best friend, who she briefly had a fling with in college, assist her but is also the voice of reason. I know where this is going. Moreover, the movie doesn’t explain why Mack would want to go along with running these schemes to get herself and her friend a series of one-night stands. I guess Mack is supposed to be like a “guy’s girl” or a “cool chick” because she hangs out with dudes and writes about sports, but it is all very lame. If you don’t roll your eyes throughout most of this movie, then your ophthalmologist will be happy. The worst part is that nothing is really funny, and none of the main characters is charming. It’s hard to root for anyone here.

Side Note: The brightest spot and my sole shout out goes to Liza Koshy. She comes in like a breath of fresh air. She got good energy and attempts to bring some humor with her line delivery and physical comedy. Koshy seems to have understood that this premise is ridiculous and she gives her scenes that punch. She’ll have a good career as a scene-stealing minor character.

Players is another formulaic romantic comedy that suffers from a lame premise and a predictable plot. Liza Koshy is the only actor worth mentioning as she infuses the film with some humor, which it otherwise is sorely missing. If you want to put on a bland romantic comedy in the background, Players is fine for a handful of popcorn.