Leatherheads
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 1 hour, 54 minutes
Directed by: George Clooney
Starring:
George Clooney - Jimmy "Dodge" Connelly
Renée Zellweger - Lexie Littleton
John Krasinski - Carter Rutherford
Jonathan Pryce - CC Frazier
Studies have shown that, to quote the old song, "When you're smilin', the whole world smiles with you," I must take comfort in the scientific data of these studies because otherwise it's kind of creepy that I had the same goofy grin on my face as the main characters in the romantic comedy, Leatherheads. Of course, I could just take solace in knowing that George Clooney's latest film is as effortlessly charming and charismatic as the man himself and no one, no matter their age, race, gender, or sexual orientation can resist his winning attitude.
Dodge Connelly (Clooney) wants professional football to stay alive, which is a much bigger challenge in 1925 when the film is set than it would be today. In order to save the sport and thus his job and the jobs of his teammates, he recruits college football superstar Carter "The Bullet" Rutherford (John Krasinski). All would be well if not for the meddlesome charms of investigative reporter Lexie Littleton (Renée Zellweger) who wants to find out if Rutherford's fabled valor in World War I is fact or fiction, a reveal which would shatter Rutherford's image and therefore the success of Connelly's football dreams. This is all compounded by the competing of Dodge and Carter for Lexie's affections.
When you have a love triangle with actors as funny, witty, and engaging as these, there's not much room to go wrong. Clooney's already proven himself an adept storyteller behind the camera and he continues that trend here. Not only does he capture the style and tone of classic romantic screwball comedies, but he's got a great economy of storytelling. If the film has one major flaw, it's that sometimes Clooney over-does it and takes one too many shortcuts, leaving certain story points or character motivations more vague than necessary.
But this is a minor complaint for a film that's a perfect date movie with superb performances, quick wit, and a guarantee to put a big dumb smile on your face for two hours.
Words by
Matt Goldberg
3.26.08
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