CNN
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In romantic comedies, informal intercourse isn’t all it’s cracked as much as be, and the commitment-phobic ultimately see the error of their methods. The Netflix film “Gamers” follows that primary playbook, however the enjoyable is in getting there, thanks largely to Gina Rodriguez because the chief of a gang of associates who function like a “Mission: Not possible”-type crew for the aim of orchestrating one-night stands.
No one ought to anticipate an excessive amount of of a film on this style launched on Valentine’s Day, and grading on that curve, “Gamers” fortunately punches above its weight class and exceeds expectations.
Rodriguez’s Mack and her longtime buddies (performed by Damon Wayans Jr., Augustus Prew and Joel Courtney) hang around collectively till it’s time to leap into motion and “run a play,” using certainly one of a number of tried-and-true strategies they’ve developed so as to organize random hookups.
By day, they work for a newspaper the place Mack works as a sportswriter, and, in what’s positively an indication of the occasions, stresses about whether or not the following spherical of layoffs may meet up with her.
Earlier than you’ll be able to say “Boomerang,” although, Mack meets dashing creator Nick (“Lucifer’s” Tom Ellis), and tumbles into mattress with him, solely later deciding that she needs to try to have an precise relationship with him. (“Mission achieved” would imply being supplied a drawer in his condominium for her stuff, which owes a small debt to a different film from this well-worn style, “About Final Night time.”)
Though initially horrified that Mack would attempt to parlay their encounter right into a deeper relationship after working a “play,” her buddies take part her elaborate scheme to woo Nick, and certainly one of them, Adam (Wayans), even wonders aloud whether or not it’s “time to be adults” – a sign that their lifetime of straightforward hookups may be coming to an finish.
In fact, nothing’s ever so simple as that, and director Trish Sie (“Pitch Good 3” and the newer “Sitting in Bars With Cake”) and author Whit Anderson throw in hurdles and wrinkles. Thankfully, Rodriguez spent 5 seasons making an attempt to determine who she must be with on “Jane the Virgin,” so she’s bought loads of expertise coping with that exact conundrum.
“Gamers” isn’t right here to carve out any new floor, merely to cowl acquainted territory as pleasantly as potential. And as Mack or some other sportswriter might let you know, when calling a primary play, success actually boils all the way down to execution and making the correct calls.
“Gamers” premieres February 14 on Netflix.