Gerard Butler's new movie is about ''learning to grow up''.

The Scottish actor identified instantly with his 'Playing For Keeps' character George - a former professional athlete who tries to repair his relationship with his son by coaching his soccer time - because of his internal struggles in trying to move ahead with his life.

He said: ''Well, what attracted me to him was this guy's trip. He's a bit down on his luck. He's trying to make something of his life. He's a nice dude. You like this guy. He's a charmer, but at the same time, internally, he's kind of lost a lot of his confidence, and he's chaotic, and he doesn't really know how to hold his own space.

''I think this is a movie about, really, him learning to grow up. And I think we all identify with that is where to make the commitment, where to learn how to have some responsibility, how to get rid of the distractions.''

Gerard - whose character gets distracted by many of the mothers of the boys in his time - thinks there will be at least one character that every audience member can relate to.

He added to Buzzine Film: ''He comes to this town, he's a fish out of water, he meets new people; it's a new life, and he meets a lot of crazy people as well.

''And how do you deal with that, you know? He goes home; they're in his bed, or they're outside his house, or they're luring him in with jobs.

''And I think that it's a very universal idea. I mean everybody can relate either with the ex-wife, or the kid, or George, or the frustrated women who are in there, you know, who want a piece of him. It's coming from all angles.''