Playing It Cool (Blu-ray) | Romantic Comedy Movie | Date Night Film | Perfect for Couples Movie Night & Relaxing Evenings

***Warning spoilers****There are two big indicators this is not a "rom-com:" first, the production studio is a small independent studio; second, it has a "R" rating for sexual content and language. The former reason is the biggie - lovers of rom-coms should know that no traditional, mainstream rom-com would receive a "R" rating.Although I am giving this a five-star rating (and it is not because it is by any means Oscar-worthy, but it is enjoyable), I have to say there is little chemistry between Chris Evans and Michelle Monaghan; however, I might suggest even that problem fits within this non-love story. The real chemistry comes from the four other actors who are "Me's" group of writer friends.For those who love Steve Rogers/Captain America, please understand one will not find that character anywhere in this guy. Evans' character in this movie lost his mother at a young age (he first thought she ran off to Chile with a guy as she left in a note, but later discovered she died) and from that time on set his heart off to the side-literally. I have to admit I adore Evans' non-speaking portrayal of his disenchanted, chain-smoking heart. I found his depiction of his cynical heart was much more charming than the primary character "Me."If one is looking for love and heart in this movie, there is only one character to visit and that is Topher Grace's Scott. He not only reminds us of what we like about rom-coms, but he is the one character who is not scared to show that he cares for people. He openly and unashamedly believes in love and romance and his unwillingness to hide his beliefs often leaves him mocked by his group.Evans' character speaks about being "in love," but he says he is not sure he even believes in love. He is also "in love" with a woman he is not sure believes in love either. While in the end he does say "I love you," the audience never actually hears the same from "Her." Revealingly about half-way through the movie Evans' character had a chance to disclose the biggest hurt in his life, the death of his mother, which manifested in his inability to even look at a box of Captain Crunch cereal, but "his heart" waves him off. While having sex with the object of his obsession allowed for him to renew a relationship with The Captain, he still does not open up as to why his heart is damaged to "Her."As "Me" writes/imagines himself in his own rom-com, we see he has at least considered the fact love and romance can be exciting and not this dark thing we all crave and yet despise. In the end, we see "Me" and "Her" decide to try a relationship. I may be reading too much into this, but I think it says quite a bit that his heart has stopped chain-smoking and taken up tap-dancing and yet has still not returned to "Me's" chest. When it comes to the future of the relationship I do not see marriage and a family: I imagine "Me" is going to wake up one night with "Her" putting a pillow over his face.All-in-all, this is a movie about a man who was able to find he could love again. This was not about "falling in love" with a woman, but healing from the loss of the first woman he ever loved and loved him. In the end he realized we may experience pain, but we will only get pleasure if we accept the inevitable pain.If one is looking for a rom-com, one will be sadly disappointed. If one is looking for a little indie film with a mixture of quirky characters who act like they do not believe in romance, but are always writing about it, this is your movie. The trailer sells this as a rom-com; this was not as bad a bait-and-switch as Vanilla Sky, but it still did not exemplify this movie. Forget "Me" and "Her." I believe "Her" may not have a heart to give, but the other supporting cast who seem to have no heart actually have it in abundance. Fortunately, "Me" realizes how much love and caring he does have from the people in his life, regardless how the "Her" relationship ends up.***Addendum***As I was re-reading my review I noticed how much I used the term heart. I guess that message must have gotten into my subconscious as I only just realized how much "heart" imagery is used in this film. "Me" and "Her" go to a gallery where the displays are "heart" oriented by way of them listening to a recording of a Humming Bird's heart sounds and then going and playing with some stethoscopes that where hanging on the wall. Then the "rom-com" moment (which he may have stolen from Scott describing his love for "running through the airport scenes" and some of the other stereotypical rom-com situations that are shown), "Me" runs around San Francisco looking for "Her" at all of the "heart" statutes, only to find "Her" at the statute of the bow and arrow which "shoots hearts." I think that this movie truly was about the "Me" character trying to find the "heart" of the matter. With "Her" choosing her romantic spot to be at the place that "shoots hearts," I have just now, completely convinced myself that she does not really believe in any sort of love. Convenience and safety, maybe. Sex, definitely. Love, NO. This might have been an on the nose moment where it was intended that the bow and arrow through the heart meant that she was Cupid and has finally captured the heart of "Me," but really I think this relationship is going to be like the Bon Jovi song where "Her" shooting "Me" through the heart is going to ultimately give love a bad name. I can only hope that when "Me" discovers that he does not have a cynical heart but one which is capable of an appreciating love that he will dump "Her" eventually and go find himself a nice girl.