‘Players’ (2024) Review – Rodriguez Is Thoroughly Entertaining In Enjoyable Romantic Comedy

Players is under the helm of Trish Sie, a director whose resume includes such painful entries as Pitch Perfect 3 and The Sleepover. Working with a script from Ozark and Daredevil scribe Whit Anderson, the result is a much stronger effort. This being a romantic comedy, it hardly breaks new ground; you know exactly where it’s headed. However, the point is that you enjoy the journey instead of its destination.

The story follows Mack (Gina Rodriguez), a New York sports writer who plays the dating game for sport. And like Charlie Sheen says, she’s winning. Mack has spent years with her fellow staffers and best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) devising thrilling and elaborate pick-up plays that work. They could teach a course on how the chase is more fun than the destination (but not really).

The script starts as an almost homage to Swingers, being about the game and not dealing with, you know, the feelings. As they stack up their one-night stands (and assume a bunch of medical bills for medications), Mack falls for someone. That’s Nick (Tom Ellis), a tall, dark, and handsome war correspondent. She calls upon Adam and her friends to devise the perfect play to win Nick’s heart.

The first 30 minutes of Players is stronger than expected and has an addictive energy about it. Much of that credit should go to Gina Rodriquez, who gets to revel in the role of a woman counting up the notches of her bedpost like a lifetime batting average of .300 or better. The first few schemes are humorous and fun.

Rodriguez plays Mack as a man’s woman. She loves sports. Mack drinks and parties hard. She’s a born champion at game nights and is the true leader of her group of pals. Rodriguez’s charisma draws people to her. The female version of a man-child who plays dating games well into their thirties when most want to settle down. She is thoroughly entertaining here, and her character never grows tiresome.

The main issue you may have with Players is the title by the second act may as well be called “Monogamists.” Mack wants to settle down with Nick. Wayan’s Adam finds love with Claire (SNL’s Ego Nwodim). Brannagan’s brother, Little (Joel Courtney), begins to see Ashley (a very funny Liza Koshy). Only Brannagan plays the field on both sides of the field but is shockingly inept at it.

However, as far as genre films go, Players is enjoyable because the chemistry between Mack and the obvious target of the script’s affection is natural. There’s something sweet about watching someone realize she’s not where she is meant to be, and the reverse of gender roles to “get the guy” is refreshing.

When it comes down to it, you watch Players for Rodriguez, the star of one of the best streaming romantic comedies of the 2010s – Someone Great. While the plot is predictable and is a good 15 minutes too long, there’s enough fun for anyone who is a fan of the genre, with a fun supporting cast, to give Players a mild recommendation.

Players is currently available to stream exclusively on Netflix.