Want the full magazine experience? Scroll down to flip through the pages of this article in our digital Nov/Dec 2025 issue!
Playdate is streaming globally on Prime Video November 12, 2025
Directed by Luke Greenfield
Starring: Kevin James, Alan Ritchson, Sarah Chalke, Isla Fisher, Alan Tudyk, and Stephen Root
Stream it here!
Luke Greenfield (Let’s Be Cops, The Girl Next Door) is the master at placing everyman-type characters in extraordinary situations, and Playdate might just be his most unhinged project yet. What begins as an innocent afternoon between two suburban dads and their sons quickly explodes into a full-blown action movie filled with brawls, bullets, belly laughs, and the sneaking suspicion that there are a few secrets involved.
Kevin James stars as Brian, a recently laid-off accountant tasked with taking care of his stepson while his wife (Sarah Chalke) goes to work. Unsure how to bond with Lucas (Benjamin Pajak), Brian agrees to a playdate with Lucas’ new friend CJ (Banks Pierce) and his overly enthusiastic father, Jeff (Alan Ritchson).
Brian expects juice boxes and football tosses, but the new foursome finds themselves fumbling through a slew of hilarious mishaps while being targeted by a squad of elite mercenaries.
Photo Credit: David Bukach
Greenfield’s direction leans heavily into his trademark blend of heart, humor, and high-concept absurdity. The result is part Meet the Parents, part Mr. & Mrs. Smith, with a splash of Let’s Be Cops mayhem. Alan Ritchson, fresh off his success in Reacher, flexes both his comedic muscles and his action-hero charisma, while Kevin James grounds the film with his signature regular-guy charm and spot-on timing. The odd-couple duo’s chemistry is the heartbeat of the film, turning what could’ve been a simple buddy comedy into a surprisingly heartfelt exploration of fatherhood and friendship—with a healthy dose of ridiculousness.
Rounding out the chaos with perfectly matched quirky energy is the supporting cast, including Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Isla Fisher, and Stephen Root. Young actors Benjamin Pajak and Banks Pierce also shine alongside James and Ritchson, proving their own star power.
Clocking in at a brisk 93 minutes, Playdate doesn’t overstay its welcome. Greenfield keeps the pacing tight and the stakes escalating, balancing slapstick comedy with well-staged action. There’s a playful self-awareness throughout—whether it’s a minivan chase involving happy-hour moms that feels ripped from Fast & Furious, or a heartfelt moment scored to a perfectly chosen pop ballad (a Greenfield trademark). Playdate isn’t trying to hide its silliness—it wants you to celebrate it.
Beneath the explosions and pratfalls, Greenfield sneaks in genuine emotion about fatherhood, purpose, and what it means to feel useful again when life goes off-script.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Playdate is a fun suburban survival story with real heart—proving that sometimes pure chaos is exactly what we need to survive.
—Review by Sandy Lo, StarShine Magazine
Directed by: Luke Greenfield
Written by: Neil Goldman
Produced by: Luke Greenfield, Jason Benoit, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Mark Fasano, Jeffrey Greenstein
Executive Produced by: Alan Ritchson, Dan Spilo, Neil Goldman, Michelle Meyers, Alexis Garcia, Matthew Goldberg, Lee Broda, Jamal Sannon
Starring: Alan Ritchson, Kevin James, Sarah Chalke, Alan Tudyk, Benjamin Pajak, Banks Pierce, Hiro Kanagawa with Stephen Root and Isla Fisher
Genre: Action, Comedy
⭐Enter to win this issue autographed by cover star Ashlee Keating!
Watch the trailer for Playdate
Want the full magazine experience? Flip through the Nov/Dec 2025 issue below!
Want a collectible print issue? Get it from our Blurb Bookstore!
Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
Discover more from StarShine Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.