three stars

Reviewed by Daniel E. Jennis

“Leatherheads” just screams period piece. From its jazzy score, to its old-fashioned sets, to its decidedly 1920’s costume selection, this movie really wants to let you know that it takes place in the past. For better or worse, this is the picture’s defining characteristic, and it absolutely conditions the way in which audiences will perceive the film.

George Clooney stars as Dodge Connolly, the leader of a mediocre pro-football franchise from Duluth, Minnesota. Dodge is an aging running back who commands a motley crew of coal miners and farmers who inhabit a league that is devoid of rules or fairness. The games have gotten so dirty and ridiculous that fans are refusing to watch. As a result, revenue is down, and professional football is on the brink of collapse.

Just when things seem hopeless, Duluth acquires war hero and college star Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), a charming all-American type who may be concealing something about his supposed heroism. Renée Zellweger rounds out the cast as reporter Lexie Littleton, a seductive and shrewd bombshell who looks to undercut Rutherford’s newfound fame.

“Leatherheads” is a uniformly mediocre movie because its screenplay lacks any ambition. Apparently, the script for this film has been languishing in post-production hell for something like seventeen years. After a significant overhaul from Clooney, the movie was released in theatres to ambivalent reviews.

From watching the infrequent humor and unstable plotline, it is pretty easily to tell that this movie is unfocused and messy. Like in an old-fashioned comedy, physical gags are executed with goofy overtones and exaggerated facial expressions. The ineffable silliness of the entire film often mixes poorly with the contrasting attempts at sophistication. There is a lot of sharp and witty dialogue exchanged between the three leads, extend barbs that are reminiscent of Hepburn/Grant romantic comedies, and it quickly becomes unclear what kind of film Clooney, who also directs, is presenting.

Nevertheless, “Leatherheads” looks really good, and Clooney’s ability to not only capture, but also heighten, the sense of 1920’s nostalgia is certainly commendable. The sets are bathed in a rustic series of browns and grays, and the taverns of the Prohibition Era are reconstructed with meticulous detail.

Moreover, Clooney applies common dramatic conventions from the present era to a nostalgic framework with impressive results. The dialogue snaps, the football sequences are exciting, and the more complicated story elements burst through the aura of yesteryear. “Leatherheads” seems a poor idea from the get go, but with the Clooney at the helm, the results are surprisingly pleasant.