“Leatherheads” is a pleasant enough movie, an old-fashioned battle of the sexes that is reminiscent of 1940s Hollywood romantic comedies. The dialogue in particular is witty, delivered in a fashion that requires perfect timing and this verbal repartee between George Clooney and Renée Zellweger generates a lot of chuckles.
In 1925, professional football has not become the big money franchise that it is today. It was played in aging stadiums on torn up fields by men who loved the game. In an effort to keep his team, the Duluth Bulldogs, from going bankrupt, Dodge Connelly (Clooney) proposes to recruit college football star Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski), who is also a decorated war hero. Dodge negotiates with Carter’s agent C.C. Frazier (Jonathan Pryce) for $10,000 a game. Suddenly pro football becomes the hottest ticket in town and front-page news. Lexie Littleton (Zellweger) is sent by her newspaper to uncover the truth about Rutherforld’s WWI exploits. She and Dodge clash at their first meeting, but it is obvious that they are attracted to each other.
“Leatherheads” touches on two issues: the importance of having heroes even if they haven’t done anything particularly heroic and the impact of big money on the sport of football. Dodge represents the freewheeling days when football had very few rules and the game was fun. Rutherford, the serious professional, represents the future.
Clooney and Zellweger play off of each other in well-choreographed feints and their banter is a pleasure to watch. However, the last third of the movie runs a little too long. Nonetheless, “Leatherheads” retains its breezy charm and it’s worth seeing. (4/6/08)
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