PRINTTake Two: Leatherheads
Courtesy of Universal Studios
April 10, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
With leather on his head and football in his heart, Jimmy “Dodge” Connelly’s (George Clooney) livelihood revolves around his beloved sport. But in the mid-1920s, the dying popularity of professional football threatens to sack the sport permanently.
In an effort to get the Bulldogs out of the doghouse, Dodge recruits Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), a war-hero-turned-national-celebrity who plays good ball and attracts crowds by the bulk. Things get muddy when both men fall for Lexi Littleton (Renée Zellweger), a reporter who is trying to expose Rutherford’s fraudulent war efforts.
This movie proves to be a swinging good time from kickoff to the final whistle. It carries the same carefree, lighthearted aura that the pre-depression era is famous for. Filled with Dixieland jazz, speakeasies and flapper dresses, Leatherheads stays true to the ’20s without losing a yard and brings the audience along to enjoy the good times.
With George Clooney pulling double duty as director, the film tackles your funny bone all the way through. From the quick-talking Lexi Littleton’s witty remarks to the buffoon football players that compose the Bulldog’s scrimmage line, Leatherheads is an energetic joy to watch.
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