Published: April 09, 2008 12:19 am            

‘Leatherheads’ gives pro football the old college try

George Clooney probably has more goodwill going for him than almost any other person in Hollywood right now.

He’s proven to be as solid behind the camera in “Good Night and Good Luck” and “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” as he has in front of it (“Michael Clayton” and “Syriana” the latter of which won him an Oscar).

So when something like “Leatherheads” doesn’t perform quite as well as it could have, you can at least understand what he was going for and forgive him.

“Leatherheads”, which Clooney directs and stars in, tackles new territory about the early days of professional football. The movie, set in 1925, follows the trail of the Duluth Bulldogs and their team captain, the aging star Dodge Connolly (Clooney). Dodge is trying to keep his team and pretty much professional football afloat as it wallows in the path of the much more popular game of college football.

We see the differences right away as college football revels in front of thousands of fans while pro football is played in a cow pasture and the Bulldogs are forced to forfeit a game when the only football there is stolen. It’s the home team’s job to provide the football.

Dodge sees salvation in the form of Carter “The Bullet” Rutherford (John Krasinski), the country’s top college football star who also happens to be a war hero who, legend has it, made an entire platoon of German soldiers surrender by charging their foxhole. Dodge manages to meet Carter and convinces him and his shady agent CC Frazier (Jonathan Pryce) to play with the Bulldogs.

But also on Carter’s trail is plucky Chicago Tribune reporter Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger) who is angling for a promotion by exposing the truth behind Carter’s supposed war heroics.

Carter develops a crush on Lexie and Dodge and Lexie have several spirited exchanges, which leads to an inevitable love triangle and eventually a final game that will usher in the modern era of pro football as we know it.

“Leatherheads” has an authentic feel. From the clothes to the music to the dialogue it all feels like a slapstick 1920s adventure. And that’s “Leatherheads’” biggest problem. What was funny in the 1920s just isn’t that funny today. While there are a few amusing moments here and there, “Leatherheads” really isn’t all that funny. The snappy exchanges between Clooney and Zellweger probably would have gone over well in another era, but they don’t do a whole lot here. Everyone on their own is fun enough to watch, but you never feel any sparks fly between Clooney and Zellweger or even Krasinski and Zellweger.

Jonathan Pryce stands out as CC. Even back in the ’20s there were sleazy football agents and Pryce makes a good villain.

It would have been interesting if Clooney had focused less on the romantic triangle and more on football. That’s where “Leatherheads’” best moments are, especially the final game.

It was a nice topic to see explored. It just seemed like there was more that could have been done. “Leatherheads” will not go down as George Clooney’s best work, but you surely can appreciate what he was trying to do. It comes off more as a bad tackle attempt. Nothing he can’t break easily and keep on driving toward the end zone.



Andy Paugh writes for Ottumwa (Iowa) Courier. He can be reached at aspaugh@mchsi.com

        

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