Leatherheads (2008)

George Clooney directs himself in a story about the revamping of US professional football in the mid 1920's. Clooney plays Dodge Connelly, an aging football player. The movie also stars John Krasinski, as Carter Rutherford - college football and WWI hero - who has been recruited to bring life back into the collapsing pro league. Renee Zellweger jumps in as Lexie Littleton, the Chicago newspaper reporter sent to find out if Rutherford's heroism was real. It's a mildly interesting setup that makes for a mildly interesting movie.

Clooney does well with some 1920's-style comedy film nods but the film isn't completely cemented in retaining that film style, which sometimes makes it all come off a bit too goofy for a modern audience although it could still be appreciated by film connoisseurs. The love triangle between the leads was a given but when one player asserts his dominance about halfway through, the premise becomes a throwaway. The dialogue has some great exchanges enhanced even more so by the actors' rapid-fire volleying. Unfortunately as the movie progresses, it gets bogged down by a continually slowed overall pacing until the end of the film is slowly dragging itself through the mud - literally. It was a nice effort and it looks like everyone involved gave it their best, but overall it was just an okay film.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: Someone who has nothing to do for two hours and doesn't mind Renee Zellweger, George Clooney, or John Krasinski.

Extended Review: After the smart banter, the next best thing about this film is the story behind Rutherford's WWI medal. In a modern film, the focus would have been on Rutherford as he retells how he accidentally got a whole enemy squad to surrender. But in keeping with the 1920's style, we're treated to a flashback of the event. The lucky confusion of the enemy isn't the funniest plot point ever, but it is clever. And once he returns from the flashback, Krasinksi wears the story like a weight around his neck bringing a bit more depth to his character in a film full of rather flat characters.